A jury inquest will be held into the unfortunate death of a woman who choked to death after a marshmallow eating competition.
A 37-year-old mother of two, Natalie Buss, collapsed and died after participating in a marshmallow eating contest at a charity event at Beddau Rugby Club in Wales in October of last year. The competition, organized by entertainer Christopher Gibbons, known as “Roly-Poly,” involved contestants seeing how many marshmallows they could fit into their mouths in 60 seconds. Buss, who was supporting her son’s rugby team, collapsed in a corridor shortly after leaving the stage, despite efforts from audience members and paramedics to save her.
The tragic incident took place during a fundraising event at the club, located near Pontypridd, South Wales. The club was filled with friends and family of the participants, who had been cheering the contestants on during the competition. After the game, Buss made her way off stage but soon collapsed in the crowded corridor. According to reports, an off-duty nurse in the audience immediately rushed to assist, performing CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive. However, despite these efforts, Buss could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene.
Christopher Gibbons, who has worked as an entertainer for over 15 years, stated that he has hosted many similar events in the past but had never witnessed an incident like this. He has since decided to stop introducing the marshmallow eating game in future events. Gibbons shared his grief, saying, “This tragedy has devastated the entire community, and I have made the decision to stop this game from being played at future events.”
The inquest, held at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court, is expected to focus on the safety protocols of such games and whether proper risk assessments were conducted before the event. Coroner Gavin Knox stated that the jury would examine if adequate measures were in place and whether the risks of choking during the marshmallow-eating contest had been considered.
The Beddau Rugby Club expressed its grief in a heartfelt statement following the event, saying, “The club and the Beddau community are heartbroken. On Saturday night we lost a very dear friend who will be sadly missed. Everybody associated with Beddau RFC and within the community is nothing less than devastated at the weekend’s accident.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation into the incident, with the scope including a detailed review of the event’s organization, the risks associated with marshmallow-eating contests, and the circumstances that led to Buss’s death. Gibbons is set to provide evidence at the inquest, along with Buss’s husband, Elliott, two paramedics, and her GP.
Natalie Buss worked as an accountant at UHY Hacker Young, alongside her husband. Friends and family have expressed their shock and disbelief at her sudden passing, paying tribute to her as a loving wife, mother, and daughter. Tributes poured in across social media from members of the community, who described Buss as a kind and caring person who will be deeply missed.
The rugby club where the incident occurred had hosted the charity event to raise funds for its junior rugby teams, with Buss’ son being a player on one of the teams. Buss had previously won a bingo game before being invited on stage to participate in the marshmallow contest.
The inquest has been delayed due to a backlog of cases and is not expected to be heard for at least six months. Inquests with a jury are typically held when the death in question may have broader public safety implications, as appears to be the case here. The coroner has indicated that the focus will be on assessing whether the game itself was appropriate and what, if any, risk mitigation measures were in place.
In response to the tragedy, many have called for greater scrutiny of competitive eating contests, particularly those that may involve high choking risks like marshmallow eating. The HSE’s investigation may lead to recommendations for event organizers on how to conduct such games safely.
As the investigation progresses, those closest to Buss hope for answers and a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding her death.