Belgian Woman Endures Terrifying Ordeal After Swallowing Entire Spoon
A young Belgian woman has recounted the harrowing experience of accidentally swallowing a 17-centimetre spoon while eating yoghurt, an incident that led to a hospital visit and a stark warning about multitasking during meals.
The Startling Incident That Led to an Unusual Emergency
Reymy Amelinckx, a 28-year-old medical representative from Rumst, Belgium, was enjoying a snack on her couch when disaster struck. She had placed the spoon in her mouth to free her hands for texting on her phone. At that precise moment, her energetic dog, Marley, leaped onto her lap.
"I was so startled I jerked my head back, and before I knew it, the spoon was lodged in my throat," Reymy explained. "I stood up and started to panic." Faced with the immediate danger of choking, she made the split-second decision to swallow the utensil whole, as she could not remove it manually.
Delayed Medical Attention Due to Embarrassment
Despite the bizarre nature of the accident, Reymy initially felt too embarrassed to seek help or even inform her boyfriend when he returned home. "I pretended nothing was wrong," she admitted. It was only after dinner, when she researched online and realised the severity of having a 17cm object in her stomach, that she rushed to the accident and emergency department.
Doctors confirmed the spoon was too large to pass through her digestive system naturally. They scheduled a gastroscopy for two days later, leaving Reymy to endure an uncomfortable wait. "That night was difficult," she recalled. "I felt the spoon moving, sometimes even between my ribs. It was truly terrifying."
The Medical Procedure and Recovery Process
During the gastroscopy, performed under local anaesthetic, medical staff had to rotate the spoon in her stomach to extract it, causing a minor gastric haemorrhage. "It wasn't pleasant, but I felt pure relief when it came out," Reymy said. She expressed gratitude that surgery was not required.
Following the procedure, she experienced a sore throat from oesophageal damage, some gastric bleeding, and stomach sensitivity, but no permanent harm. Her recovery was notably swift, allowing her to return home the same day.
A Unique Keepsake and a Public Warning
In an unexpected twist, Reymy decided to keep the spoon as a memento. "My boyfriend wants to turn it into a work of art," she shared. "It will definitely be a unique piece. That's the least such an adventure deserves."
She also issued a cautionary message to others, emphasising the risks of multitasking while eating. "Enthusiastic dogs plus eating on laps equals a risk zone," she advised. "Teach them a 'wait' or 'quiet' command for jumping moments."
Her recommendations for yoghurt eaters include:
- Avoid placing cutlery completely in your mouth
- Refrain from multitasking with pets nearby
- Steer clear of jump scares and laughing with a full mouth
Most importantly, Reymy stressed: "If you swallow something that really shouldn't be there, seek medical attention immediately. Embarrassment is temporary, internal damage isn't."
