Cockroach-eating contest winner dies minutes after competition
Getty
The winner of a cockroach-eating contest died just minutes after ingesting dozens of the live critters.
Edward Archbold, 32, had won a python after munching more cockroaches and worms than around 30 other contestants.
He became ill shortly after the contest finished and collapsed in front of the venue, the Ben Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He was then taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead
According to the Mirror, store owner Ben Siegel said: "We feel terribly awful. He looked like he just wanted to show off and was very nice."
A statement from Mr Siegel's lawyer said all the participants signed waivers "accepting responsibility for their participation in this unique and unorthodox contest".
The bugs consumed were from an inventory of insects "that are safely and domestically raised in a controlled environment as food for reptiles".
According to the Telegraph, authorities were waiting for results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Michael Adams, professor of entomology at the University of California at Riverside, said he has never heard of someone dying after consuming roaches. He told the paper: "Unless the roaches were contaminated with some bacteria or other pathogens, I don't think that cockroaches would be unsafe to eat.
"Some people do have allergies to roaches, but there are no toxins in roaches or related insects."
%VIRTUAL-Gallery-123209%
Sign up to our weekly newsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a fan on Facebook
