Fish Swallower Chokes To Death
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
VIBURNUM, Mo. (AP) -- A man who apparently had spent the day drinking with friends choked to death trying to swallow a live, 5-inch fish.
Todd Poller's friends reported hearing the 45-year-old yell: "Hey, watch this," before he grabbed a perch from the water and dropped it headfirst into his mouth.
Iron County Sheriff Alan Mathes said Poller choked and gasped as his friends tried to dislodge the fish. He was pronounced dead when emergency crews arrived.
An autopsy found Poller died from asphyxiation from having the fish lodged in his throat. Aside from choking, Poller suffered lacerations to the inside of his throat from the fish's fins.
Mathes described Poller was a "well-known character" in the area.
Submitted on 05/17/2002
Submitted by:
Andrew Shinn
Reference:
Associated Press Thursday, M
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