Bun blamed for man’s death - Contest turns tragic after participant chokes mid-competition

A bun-eating competition spiralled into tragedy on Saturday after the pastry became lodged in the throat of a man who eventually died.

Preliminary reports indicate that a participant choked after a chunk of bun got stuck in his throat, leaving him fighting for breath before he succumbed at hospital.

Head of the Manchester Police Division, Superintendent Carey Duncan, confirmed that the incident occurred during a promotional event in Christiana.

"The man was participating in a bun-eating competition, and we understand that foreign object got lodged in his throat," the senior cop said. "He was rushed to the hospital and he was pronounced dead."

He declined to identify the deceased. However, THE STAR understands the victim to be 37 years old, of a Trelawny address.

It remains unclear whether emergency first aid, such as the Heimlich manoeuvre, was administered at the scene before he was taken for medical treatment.

The Heimlich manoeuvre is a first-aid technique used to treat choking by forcing air from the lungs to expel an object blocking the airway. It involves applying quick, upward pressure to the abdomen, just above the navel, to create enough force to dislodge the obstruction.

Contacted for comment yesterday, medical doctor Jermaine Augustus explained that choking is a major risk in speed-eating scenarios, particularly when large portions are consumed quickly.

"In rapid eating, large bites increase the risk of food entering the airway," Augustus said. "With something like bun, which can be dry and sticky, it can form a blockage that is difficult to clear."

He said techniques such as the Heimlich manoeuvre, also known as abdominal thrusts, are designed to expel blockages from the airway and must be performed quickly and correctly.

"If the airway is blocked, it has to be done immediately and correctly," he said. "For severe choking in adults, you do five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged."

Augustus also cautioned against attempting to remove food from a person's mouth without care, noting that this can sometimes worsen the obstruction.

"We don't normally advise that, because you can actually push the object further down," he said.

Augustus suggested that organisers of eating events should account for the possibility of a medical emergency and ensure that trained help is available.

"There should be contingency planning in case somebody does choke," he said. "If you are doing a particular competition like that, I think it's necessary that persons have medical assistance close by."