A competitive eater who was rushed to hospital after his stomach stopped processing a colossal 6,000-calorie meal stunned doctors by heading straight to McDonald's for 38 chicken nuggets upon his release.
The Mammoth Food Challenges
Reece Chadfield, a 22-year-old personal trainer from Stockton-on-Tees, travelled seven hours to take on the 'Cattlemans Steakhouse' challenge in Paignton, Devon. The challenge involved consuming a massive plate of food including a 2kg steak, chips, and onion rings.
Known online as 'Reece vs Food', the 6ft 2in, 11-stone man demolished the entire meal in an impressive 36 minutes and 44 seconds. He reported feeling warm and having shaky legs afterwards, but otherwise fine.
Despite waking the next morning with stomach pains and vomiting, Reece decided to attempt another enormous challenge that same evening. He polished off a 2.5kg fish and chip feast, went for a walk, and then returned to his room where severe pain set in.
A Trip to A&E and a Shocking Diagnosis
After a night of agony with a swollen belly, friends took a pale and suffering Reece to the Accident and Emergency department at Torbay Hospital in Torquay. His temperature had spiked to 39°C.
Medical tests revealed the shocking cause of his distress: a large amount of unprocessed food was sitting stagnant in his stomach, which had effectively stopped working due to the extreme quantity. Doctors hooked him up to IV drips to tackle severe dehydration.
Gary King, owner of Cattlemans Steakhouse, emphasised his venue's responsible approach. He refused to let Reece attempt further challenges for two days and suggested the hospitalisation likely resulted from a combination of food challenges Reece had undertaken in the preceding week.
The Nugget Recovery and Public Backlash
After a four-hour hospital visit, Reece was discharged. That night, feeling better and hungry, he made a controversial choice. He consumed 38 chicken nuggets, a large portion of chips, and a large McFlurry from McDonald's, which he managed to keep down without issue.
Reece shared his ordeal on social media, where reactions were mixed. While some expressed sympathy, others criticised him for wasting NHS time and resources.
In response, Reece defended himself, stating this was his first ever hospital visit in 22 years and that he had learned a lesson. He compared the risk to other lifestyle choices like smoking or drinking, and highlighted his otherwise fit and active lifestyle, which includes over 20,000 daily steps.
He concluded that while he will continue food challenges, he would likely avoid another steak challenge of that magnitude, calling the entire episode "a wild experience".
