Khaberni - A night of fun and laughter among friends turned into a tragic nightmare, as a 22-year-old young man lies in critical condition in an intensive care unit in Greece, after swallowing an entire burger "as a joke".
The horrifying incident happened last Thursday when the young man, whose name has not been disclosed, attempted a "joke" by swallowing his meal whole without chewing with his friends in the town of Koropi.
The young man was immediately transported to G. Gennimatas Hospital, where he is now on artificial respiration and fighting for his life after the incident caused severe damage to his vital organs, including his brain and kidneys, according to a report in "Daily Mail".
Panic attack and sudden collapse
In a chilling testimony, a friend who was present detailed the crucial moments. He explained to the local media that his friend began to panic immediately after swallowing the burger before collapsing to the ground.
"He seemed to suffer something like a panic attack. He got up and ran a bit away, we thought he would spit it out because he didn't want to create a mess in front of others... then he started coming back, and the moment we realized something was wrong was when he began hitting his back against a pole, perhaps trying to spit it out or something of that nature," he said.
The friend denied that the incident was part of a "serious challenge", confirming it was merely a "joke" that started with the young man saying "watch this". It is believed that the young man stopped breathing for a full two minutes, a duration sufficient to cause irreversible brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
Michalis Gianakos, president of the General Federation of Greek Hospital Employees (POEDHN), described the young man's condition as "very critical" and that he "could only be saved by a miracle". Gianakos was astonished at the ability to swallow a whole meal without chewing, emphasizing that immediate medical intervention was necessary.
Matina Pagoni, the former president of the Athens-Piraeus Hospital Physicians Association (EINAP), expressed her deep regret for the tragic circumstances: "These are tragic circumstances. A 22-year-old went to Koropi just to have fun, and he is now living on a ventilator and in very critical condition, with serious problems affecting his brain, kidneys, and all his organs."
The local police spokesperson, Konstantina Demoglou, confirmed that the authorities have begun an investigation into the incident, and will seek to obtain recordings from the restaurant to determine if anyone encouraged or incited him to perform this "joke" that nearly cost him his life.
