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Cockroaches die in cockroach-eating contest
Other | Thursday 11th October 2012 | Liam
The winner of a cockroach-eating contest in Florida died soon after devouring dozens of live cockroaches…which also died in the process
An investigation has been launched into the “mysterious” deaths of hundreds of cockroaches in Florida following what witnesses called a “cockroach-eating contest”. The winner also died under “mysterious circumstances” after apparently eating dozens of the live bugs. Edward Archbold, 32, was one of 30 contestants who ate dozens of live cockroaches and mealworms in a bid to win a live python that nobody planned to eat.
The competition was going smoothly. Eye witness reports claim that Mr Archbold had stuffed tens of live bugs down his throat (some chewed, some whole) and won with nonchalant ease, his t-shirt stained with cockroach blood. But moments later reports say he keeled over vomiting then collapsed. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Experts say merely eating live cockroaches should not have been the cause of death. Although supporters of the cockroach community claim that eating cockroaches is a sure fire way to kill cockroaches, if nothing else. “Once you’ve mashed a cockroach down to pulp it ain’t gettin outta your belly,” said a local cockroach breeder. “And believe me, I know a thing or two about cockroaches.”
Insect rights campaigners are calling for an inquiry into the mass death, with officials insisting it’s not necessary because it is “pretty conclusive” that the cockroaches died through being eaten. A spokesperson for the investigation said: “We’re going to focus on the human who died because that isn’t quite so self-explanatory.”
But campaigners refuse to back down. “I still want a post mortem,” said one infuriated man. “What kind of world are we living in where the instigator of cockroach homicide is entitled to a post mortem but hundreds of poor cockroaches are just palmed off as dead with no explanation required?”
Dr Bill Kern, professor of etymology at the University of Florida, suggested Mr Archbold’s death could be down to an “allergic reaction” to a high dose of foreign protein caused by eating lots of cockroaches, which humans don’t tend to do.
By Liam McKenna
