A 37-year-old father-of-four has died after choking on watermelon during a hotel's eating competition, where the prize was a free portion of French fries.
Tragic Details of the Fatal Contest
Carlos Cerasomma was taking part in a game called 'Boca de Melancia' – meaning 'Watermelon Mouth' – at the Sao Pedro Thermas Resort in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on December 29, 2025. The rules required participants to eat the fruit as quickly as possible without using their hands, while bending down to eat from a low table.
Carlos, whose children range in age from just four months to 14 years, was competing with other guests. His wife, Kimberly Santos, stated that staff encouraged him to finish the final piece before they realised he was unresponsive.
Delayed Emergency Response Alleged
According to reports from Brazilian outlet G1 Globo, guests began shouting for help and asked if anyone could perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. One unnamed guest described how a doctor among the visitors stepped in to perform CPR, but it took approximately 25 minutes for firefighters to arrive.
Kimberly has accused the resort of a critical lack of on-site medical staff. She claims a nurse who later arrived did not attempt any procedure on Carlos, and that her husband lay on the ground for 30 minutes before being taken to hospital. She also criticised the lifeguard and other staff for not reacting swiftly enough.
Furthermore, she believes her husband's height – 5ft 11in – put him in a dangerous position at the low table, a risk she says staff failed to notice. Kimberly now plans to take legal action against the hotel.
Official Statements and Ongoing Dispute
The Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat confirmed the incident was registered as a suspicious death, stating the victim choked on food and did not survive after being taken to an Emergency Care Unit.
The resort has denied the allegations. A spokesperson said: 'The guest was promptly taken to the hospital alive, where, regrettably, he passed away. We are in direct contact with the family, offering all the necessary support.' They reiterated their solidarity with the family while preserving the privacy of those involved.
This tragic incident highlights the potential dangers of such contests. It follows other recent choking fatalities, including a man in Italy who died after a piece of panettone became lodged in his airway.
