Doctors have described as irreversible the condition of a 22-year-old man who choked while attempting to swallow a full burger during an online “challenge” at a fast-food restaurant in Koropi, a town near Athens.
Medical sources said the young man suffered serious complications to vital organs, including his brain and kidneys, after being deprived of oxygen for several minutes.
The incident occurred while he and his friends were filming the dangerous stunt for social media. Witnesses said the man began to choke moments after trying to swallow the burger whole. The food became lodged in his throat, blocking his airway completely.
Emergency responders from EKAV, Greece’s national ambulance service, arrived quickly at the scene and performed CPR to restore his pulse before rushing him to hospital, where he was intubated and placed on life support.
“The situation is irreversible. Only a miracle can save him, despite the doctors’ efforts,” said Michalis Giannakos, president of the Pan Hellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers (POEDIN).
The tragedy has sparked public concern about the growing number of dangerous online challenges, with health professionals urging young people to avoid risky dares designed for viral attention.
