A 22-year-old man is in intensive care unit and in critical condition at an Athens hospital after choking while he was trying to gulp down an entire hamburger without chewing it in what it seems a “hamburger challenge” with friends.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, while the group of friends was at a fast food restaurant in Koropi village in south-eastern Attica. There, the group allegedly placed a bet that the young man would eat a hamburger whole, without chewing it.
This resulted in his airway becoming blocked and he collapsed on the spot. An ambulance rushed to the store and transported the man to a hospital in Athens where doctors made efforts to keep him alive.
However, the damage to his brain, kidneys and other vital organs due to lack of oxygen was already done and today, his health condition is considered as “irreversible.”
““Unfortunately, his condition is irreversible. He will be saved by a miracle despite the efforts of the doctors,” said the president of hospital workers union POEDIN, Michalis Giannakos, to Mega TV about the shocking incident.
The health condition of the 22-year-old who swallowed an unchewed hamburger is considered irreversible and is being treated intubated in the intensive care unit of the “George Gennimatas” hospital.
Also former president of the Athens-Piraeus Doctors Association, Matina Pagoni, described the young man’s health condition as “very critical.”
“A 22-year-old child who went out to have fun is currently intubated with serious problems in his brain, kidneys and organs,” Pagonie said adding “it is not difficult for the airway to become blocked. That is why we must be careful when eating, but also for everyone to know basic first aid.”
“No one from the 22-year-old’s friends knew how to help him,” she stressed.
The young man’s family dismisses the claims he swallowed the hamburger without chewing it due to a challenge.
At the same time, authorities investigate the case trying to find out the truth and whether somebody from his friends urged his to the “hamburger challenge.”
PS Whatever the truth is, facts are: 1. young people nowadays have often lack of “sense of danger” 2. they certainly have zero First Aid skills – but never mind, we’ll teach them weaving, pottery and knitting.
