A festive corporate party in Moscow turned into a medical nightmare after a guest drank a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen, leading to emergency surgery for a ruptured stomach.
Christmas Party Turns to Chaos
The incident occurred on Christmas at the Igra Stolov ‘Game of Tables’ cooking studio. The event featured a theatrical ‘cryo-show’ by a well-known chef, who prepared flashy cocktails using liquid nitrogen. Witnesses reported that guests were laughing and joking, completely unaware of the impending catastrophe.
The guest, a 38-year-old man named Sergey, was allegedly encouraged to drink the cocktail immediately by the unidentified celebrity chef. It is also claimed that attendees were not warned about the potential risks of consuming the beverage before the liquid nitrogen had fully evaporated.
A Fight for Life
Shortly after drinking the cocktail, Sergey was seen clutching his stomach in agony before collapsing. He was rushed to intensive care where doctors made a grim discovery. The liquid nitrogen, which boils violently at room temperature, had caused a rapid expansion of gas inside his body.
This sudden expansion created severe internal pressure, which tore his stomach apart. Surgeons performed an emergency operation to repair the critically damaged organ. Following the surgery, the partygoer was reported as conscious but in a serious condition as he began his recovery.
The Hidden Dangers of Liquid Nitrogen
While commonly used in professional kitchens to instantly freeze ingredients, liquid nitrogen poses extreme dangers if ingested. Experts have long warned that consuming it before it fully evaporates can lead to severe injury or death.
The science behind the danger is clear. When swallowed, the substance rapidly turns into gas inside the body, expanding hundreds of times in volume. This can cause:
- Stomach rupture
- Internal bleeding
- Severe organ damage
- Freezing of internal tissues
Drinks are only safe once every trace of liquid nitrogen has evaporated. Even a small amount remaining can be life-threatening.
A History of Warnings and Tragedy
This is not the first time such a drink has caused horrific injury. In the UK back in 2012, an MP called for a complete ban on liquid nitrogen cocktails after a teenage girl needed her stomach removed following her 18th birthday celebrations.
The wine bar involved in that incident was later fined £100,000, with a judge ruling its actions had ‘fallen very far short of standards’. The use of liquid nitrogen in drinks is now strictly regulated or actively discouraged in many countries, including the UK.
The Moscow party, intended as a joyous office celebration, ended in disaster and panic, with guests leaving in shock as medics fought to save a man's life. It serves as a stark and chilling reminder of the potentially deadly consequences when theatrical flair overrides fundamental food safety.
