A festive family Christmas Eve lunch ended in unimaginable tragedy when a 47-year-old man choked to death at the dining table in front of his horrified relatives.
A Christmas Celebration Turns to Horror
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at a family home in the town of Settimo Torinese, located in Italy's Piedmont region. Giovanni Lopez was enjoying the traditional holiday meal with his family when he began to choke on a piece of panettone, a sweet Italian Christmas bread, combined with fresh mandarin orange.
Terrified family members rushed to his aid as he collapsed, quickly realising the situation was critical and calling emergency services. An ambulance was dispatched to the address, arriving at approximately 2:30 pm.
Paramedics' Efforts Prove Futile
Despite the desperate efforts of paramedics who performed resuscitation attempts at the scene, Giovanni could not be saved. Investigators later confirmed that his airways had been completely blocked by a lump of food consisting of the panettone and mandarin.
The medical examiner officially confirmed the death and ruled it a tragic accident. The sudden loss has left the family devastated, their Christmas celebrations shattered by the unforeseen event.
A Brother's Heartbreaking Tribute
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Giovanni's brother, Domenico, paid a moving tribute on social media. In a Facebook post, he remembered his sibling as a pure and generous soul.
"Giovanni, you will always be in our hearts," he wrote. "You were pure, generous and kind, perhaps too much so. You always thought of others and never of yourself. I hope the Lord will be kind to you and that you have gone on to a better life. I love you, my brother."
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can accompany festive meals. Choking is a rapid and silent medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.
Key food safety advice during celebrations includes:
- Cutting food, especially for children and the elderly, into small, manageable pieces.
- Encouraging everyone to eat slowly and chew thoroughly, particularly when conversation is lively.
- Ensuring at least one person present knows basic first aid, including the Heimlich manoeuvre.
Sadly, this was not the only Christmas season incident involving food and drink. In a separate event in Moscow, a man was left fighting for his life after his stomach was severely injured by a cocktail prepared with liquid nitrogen at a corporate party, underscoring the potential hazards of unconventional food preparation.
