Autopsy: Man choked to death in roach-eating contest
MIAMI (AP) - A Florida man choked to death after downing dozens of live roaches to win a contest earlier this year in which the grand prize was a python, an autopsy released Monday concluded.
Edward Archbold, 32, of West Palm Beach died as a result of "asphyxia due to choking and aspiration of gastric contents," according to the report released by the Broward County medical examiner's office.
Lab tests for drugs came back negative. The death has been ruled an accident.
Archbold died after downing the bugs as well as worms in October for the contest at Ben Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach, about 40 miles north of Miami.
Messages left with the store's owner and his attorney were not immediately returned.
Archbold became ill shortly after the contest and collapsed in front of the store. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
About 30 contestants ate the insects, but authorities said none of the other contestants became ill.
Edward Archbold, 32, of West Palm Beach died as a result of "asphyxia due to choking and aspiration of gastric contents," according to the report released by the Broward County medical examiner's office.
Lab tests for drugs came back negative. The death has been ruled an accident.
Archbold died after downing the bugs as well as worms in October for the contest at Ben Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach, about 40 miles north of Miami.
Messages left with the store's owner and his attorney were not immediately returned.
Archbold became ill shortly after the contest and collapsed in front of the store. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
About 30 contestants ate the insects, but authorities said none of the other contestants became ill.
I was wondering about this just the other day, and was disappointed when I wasn't able to find anything. But now I know.
About the Roach boy, what can be said, there are millions but this one is dead.  Shamelessly stolen from you know WHO.
@DaCoast You rhymed well, but didn't finish it, so I offer the ending.....
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"you can't fix stupid, so what do you do?"
Wonder if this will make the Darwin awards? Â I can also hear Law Suit in the back of my mind....in countries that DO eat insects they are usually not raw. Â
Idiocracy really was a documentary.. or maybe a glimpse of the future.
29 people came away from this with nothing but a bellyful of roaches and worms. We are doomed.
I don't like to generalize or stereotype much, but Florida seems to come up often when stories involving the bizarre or stupid pop up.
Oh my...and the grand prize is a Python/snake?
What a horrible story and shame on those involved with urging anyone take part in such behavior...SHAME on them!
I feel bad for this young stupid idiots mother and loved ones...I'm sure a lot of lives were devastated over roach and worm eating contest....wow! I doubt can get any stupider than this!
They need to add a new line to the song "Dumb Ways to Die"...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR2EpS0jw
I'm just concerned about the fact that there were about 30 people willing to eat worms and cockroaches in order to win a Python. I mean, I could almost understand if some money was involved, but a Python? ...Seriously?
this story bugs me
Interesting on one hand, that someone would actually do something like this. But each person has their taste....however odd it may be.
I usually just stepped on cockroaches, and let the ants consume them
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Can't wait to see this on an episode of "1,000 ways to die"
He probably would have eaten the Python as well. Sad though....
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This man dies of stupidity.
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So I guess stupid DOES hurt, at least sometimes.
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Yeesh.
You couldn't pay me all the money in the world to eat a cockroach, let alone a whole bunch of them.
It's hard to know what exactly to say on this one; I'm sorry someone lost their life. This is a senseless death.
I just cant predict whether mankind will go the way of the dodo or like in the movie Idiocracy.
Everytime I see that movie, I think that it's set in the very near future with the way we're going.
I wonder if he won? Â