Recently, internet news sites have been discussing a strange incident that happened in 2018 involving a man who visited Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital after having problems swallowing and vomiting.
After using advanced imaging techniques, the doctors were shocked to find out the root of the issue was an octopus stuck in his throat. This story serves as a warning for those considering eating live octopus.
Doctors flabbergasted after finding octopus in patient’s throat https://t.co/RAWkFCwxLE pic.twitter.com/nTx6kJL0B4
— New York Post (@nypost) July 5, 2023
The 55-year-old man complained of issues with swallowing and vomiting shortly after consuming seafood for supper.
Upon examination, doctors used a computed tomography scan with an endoscope to locate the octopus which was found just inches away from where the esophagus connects to the stomach.
The first attempts to move it up or down failed, so they had to maneuver their scope past it and bend its head back so they could remove it with forceps.
Raw and even live octopi are served in some regions in America such as New York and California, but this practice carries certain risks according to nutritionist Jenny Tschiesche who warned “It’s not recommended [to eat live octopus]. There’s a choking hazard predominantly from the suckers getting stuck inside the throat, leading to the octopus causing an obstruction.”
In 2019, even when cautioned against her decision, a Chinese woman attempted to record herself devouring an alive octopus on her social media vlog only for her attempt failing miserably due apparently due to struggle between her and animal itself.
Asia has much higher rates of occurrence when it comes to eating raw or live sea creatures but that doesn’t make them safe by any means.
In conclusion this story serves as reminder of how dangerous attempting eat something like raw seafood can be no matter how commonplace it may be in certain areas around world.
