Man's Death After Eating Roaches Raises Questions (Contest to Win a Snake)

10News ^ | 10/10/12

[nickcarraway]

As a Florida medical examiner tries to determine how 32-year-old Edward Archbold died after eating insects during a contest to win a snake, people around the country are asking: Why?

Authorities said Archbold became ill soon after winning and collapsed in front of the Ben Siegel Reptile Store where the contest was held. The store is in Deerfield Beach about 40 miles north of Miami. Archbold was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The grand prize in Friday night's contest was a live python.

Why would anyone eat a live cockroach? Why did he die Friday when several others in the contest ate the same bugs without incident? What inspired Archbold to shovel handfuls of crickets, worms and cockroaches into his mouth?

While eating bugs is normal in many parts of the world, the practice is taboo in the U.S. and many western countries.

Yet people do it for the shock factor, and many do so during contests or dares.

Experts point to the rise in reality TV shows and movies such as "Fear Factor" and "Jackass" as egging people on and breaking down the ick factor.

[Freedom4US]

Bingo - they also presumably have parasites of their own, that would be also transferred if ingested without first cooking or roasting.

Did this contest operator even think to consult a doctor beforehand asking whether this is a good idea?

[NonValueAdded]

From an Orlando area radio show - take it for what it is worth - a caller said his buddy was there, spoke with the roach guy and said the roach guy was beyond hammered. Said the RG told his friend that he had to get plastered in order to compete, that he really wanted the snake prize. Likely outcome, the guy died of alcohol poisoning perhaps with a complication from vomit aspiration.

And as one of the FM talk show hosts said, she hoped the coroner was reeeeeeally careful when they cut open the stomach ...

[old school]

The question is “did he replicate” before he died?

[lump in the melting pot]

The question this raises with me is, “what the hell is wrong with the human race?” Competitively eating live bugs, in order to win a live snake? Really? Anyway, if anyone in S. Florida wants a python, ffs just go out to the everglades and get yourself one - they’re everywhere!

[melsec]

I hope I have just finished the beer when it happens!

Mel

[pgkdan]

My question is, “How did someone this stupid live to the age of 32?”

BINGO!!! I've ben wondering the exact same thing! And the same goes for the idiots who didn't die.

[Tax-chick]

“And the same goes for the idiots who didn’t die.”

Excellent point.

[TigersEye]

Picky picky picky! ;^)

[familyop]

Good points. No telling what the dude died from. Doesn’t appear that he was very generally bright.

[cripplecreek]

A few hundred years back it was common for wealthy Europeans to drink wine with ground up Egyptian mummy powder. It was apparently believed to be healthy.

[a fool in paradise]

"Did they taste like chicken?"

[a fool in paradise]

"Did they taste like chicken?"

[a fool in paradise]

"Just what would you do for a Klondike Bar?"

[a fool in paradise]

"Is eating cockroaches another of those jobs that Americans just won't do?"

[a fool in paradise]

While eating bugs is normal in many parts of the world, the practice is taboo in the U.S. and many western countries.

50 cents says Baraq Hussein Ubama ate them around the same time he ate dog meat.

[a fool in paradise]

"You are what you eat." - Franz Kafka

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

Admits to eating dog...*now* it's roaches. What a pervert!

[TennesseeGirl]

If they release the autopsy report, pls update us. Just curious.