After eating several dozen roaches and worms as part of a contest to win an exotic python, 32-year-old Edward Archbold dies.
The cockroach and worm eating contest, held at Ben Siegel Reptiles Store, Florida reptile house, offered different prize pythons for whoever could eat the most of different categories of bugs.
With a few advertisements on their Facebook page, they rampantly promoted the contest. One advertisement read, “How many giant roaches would you at for a female ivory-ball python?” – captioned with a gross picture of the bug.
About 30 contestants ate the insects. Edward, too, took part in the contest and yes, he won. But tragically, he also died:
Not long after he was declared the winner of an ivory-ball python, he said he felt sick. He then started vomiting and collapsed in the store. Edward was picked up by an ambulance in front of the shop and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His cause of death is still unknown as the authorities are still waiting for the autopsy report from the medical examiners.
According to those who met him that night, he was the life of the party. And a bit of a showoff who was up for anything. Even a giant cockroach-eating contest. (Source)
Ben Siegel Reptiles Store later published a message expressing sadness about Edward Archbold’s death, saying:
We just met him the night of our sale but all liked him very much. He was outgoing and was fun and got the crowd very worked up and excited. We are sorry we will not get to know him better.
(Source)
Eww. So not worth it though. Right?