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During a Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in Custer, South Dakota, tragedy struck when Walter Eagle Tail, 47, tragically choked and lost his life in front of stunned spectators. The incident, which occurred in 2014, led to the immediate cancellation of a pie-eating competition planned for the following day.
Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler explained that emergency responders arrived to find someone performing CPR, but the meat had become lodged in Eagle Tail’s throat, preventing him from breathing. “It all happened within minutes,” Wheeler said. “Everyone was pretty shocked by it.”
Dave Ressler, Executive Director of the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce, noted this was the first injury of its kind at the local contest. “We are mourning for Walter and his family right now,” he added.
The Rapid City Journal described the event as casting a shadow over the holiday festivities, prompting organizers to consider changes to next year’s competitive eating events to enhance safety.
Those who knew Eagle Tail remembered him as a warm-hearted individual with a great sense of humor, often willing to lend a hand. He was known locally for selling bear claw necklaces near Crazy Horse.
Friend Ardis McRae recalled, “Walter was just being Walter, having fun when he entered this contest. He was just having a good time.”
She described him as someone who brought joy and camaraderie wherever he went.
Medical experts have long warned of the health risks tied to competitive eating. Dr. Shanthi Sitaraman, a gastroenterologist at Emory University School of Medicine, highlighted dangers including stomach perforations from binge eating and water intoxication from excessive fluid consumption during training.
George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating, underscored the importance of safety measures in competitive eating events. “We always make sure it’s in a controlled environment,” Shea said.
“We organize the entire thing around safety. Just as if it’s football or hockey or auto racing, we approach it as a top priority.”
Walter Eagle Tail’s untimely passing serves as a somber reminder of the risks involved in these contests and the importance of vigilance and safety precautions in such events.