UK mom ‘chokes to death’ in marshmallow-eating contest

News

By Melissa Koenig

A British mother of two reportedly choked to death during a marshmallow-eating contest raising money for her son’s rugby team.

Natalie Buss, 37, took to the stage at the fundraiser for Beddau RFC in Wales Saturday night after winning a spot in the eating challenge in an earlier game of bingo, according to the Daily Mail.

She was joyfully stuffing the marshmallows into her mouth when she suddenly collapsed, onlookers said.

“The DJ and everyone in the audience was counting as each marshmallow went into her mouth,” another mom at the fundraiser told the Mail.

“She was laughing at the same time, and it was like she sucked the marshmallows further into her mouth, the unidentified mom said.

“One minute everyone was enjoying themselves and whooping; the next, she was on the floor.

“It was dreadful to watch it happen in front of you,” she said.

Everyone quickly sprang into action, the woman said, but it was too late.

“First-aiders went forward to help, and someone said they had gone for the defibrillator on the wall of the school opposite,” she recounted. “But it didn’t help — her airways were blocked by the marshmallows.”

An official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

The Beddau RFC described the incident as a “tragic accident,” but would not confirm what part Buss played in the marshmallow-eating contest or who organized the event, according to The Times of London.

In a statement online, the club said it “lost a very dear friend who will sadly be missed.”

“Everybody associated with Beddau RFC and within the community are nothing less than devastated at this weekend’s tragic accident, and we struggle to comprehend the sense of loss people are feeling,” the rugby club said.

“This said, we must acknowledge that our loss pales into insignificance in comparison to the loss of a lady who was a wonderful wife, mother and daughter to what was an absolutely tragic turn of events.

“As a club, we send out our sincerest, heartfelt condolences to all the family, the close friends, and to all those that this has so badly impacted — you are all in our thoughts today.”

The family is now awaiting the results of an autopsy.

Once that is completed, it is expected that local authorities will open an investigation into Buss’ sudden death.

She is survived by her husband, Elliot, and their…