A mother has died after choking to death during a marshmallow-eating competition at her son’s rugby club near Pontypridd, south Wales.
Natalie Buss, 37, was attending the event to raise money for one of the junior teams in the local area.
People taking part in the challenge were given a minute to see how many marshmallows they could swallow.
Family and friends cheered on contestants at the Beddau RFC clubhouse which was playing host to a series of events to mark the Rugby World Cup.
According to reports, at around 10pm the emergency services were called after Ms Buss collapsed during the contest.
Despite the best efforts of civilians in the clubhouse to revive her, she could not be saved.
Speaking to the Mail, one witness said: “The DJ and everyone in the audience were counting as each marshmallow went into her mouth.
“She was laughing at the same time, and it was like she sucked the marshmallows further into her mouth.”
The witness, who did not wish to be named, said events soon took a turn for the worse.
She added: “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.
“First-aiders went forward to help, and someone said they had gone for the defibrillator on the wall of the school opposite. But it didn’t help.”
The witness said Ms Buss’s airway had become blocked by marshmallows, but her family is waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.
Following the tragedy, the Times reported that Beddau RFC said it had been a “tragic accident” and that the club would not confirm who had organised the contest and what part Ms Buss had taken.
In a statement, South Wales police said: “A 37-year-old woman collapsed and died.
“HM coroner has been informed and inquiries into the circumstances of the death are continuing.”
An inquest into Ms Buss’s death is expected to open later this month.
