Mother chokes on marshmallows at rugby club competition in South Wales
- Natalie Buss, a 37-year-old mother, choked during a marshmallow-eating contest at a rugby club event in South Wales.
- The contest was organized by a children's entertainer and involved participants trying to fit as many marshmallows in their mouths as possible within a minute.
- The community and family are devastated by the tragic incident, prompting an inquest to assess the circumstances and safety of the event.
A tragic incident occurred during a marshmallow-eating contest at a fundraising event for an under-10's rugby team in Beddau RFC, South Wales. Natalie Buss, a 37-year-old mother of two, was called to participate in the contest after winning a bingo game. The contest involved contestants attempting to fit as many marshmallows into their mouths as possible within a 60-second time limit, cheered on by family and friends. Unfortunately, after leaving the stage, Buss collapsed in a corridor and could not be revived by paramedics who arrived on the scene. The inquest into her death revealed that the event was organized by children's entertainer Christopher Gibbons, who has since been interviewed by police. The coroner, Gavin Knox, indicated that the inquest would focus on risk assessment and mitigation related to the game, as well as the appropriateness of the entertainment provided. He expressed the need for a jury to assess the circumstances surrounding Buss's death, suspecting it could be classified as a 'notifiable accident'. Due to a backlog in jury inquests exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the full inquest is not expected to take place for at least six months. Buss's family has been informed, and they are awaiting further details. Local MP Alex Davies-Jones expressed her condolences, highlighting the impact of the tragedy on the community. Beddau RFC released a statement expressing their heartbreak over the incident, emphasizing the profound loss felt by the community and the family. The club acknowledged the devastating nature of the accident and the significant loss of a beloved wife, mother, and daughter.