Eddy Archbold dies after winning bug eating contest in Deerfield Beach, FL
update Oct 9 The reptile store has posted a statement from its attorney on its facebook page
Urban Jungles Radio was present at the contest and recorded a podcast
Palm Beach Post article | interview with Eddy Archbold’s girlfriend
Miami Herald article
Local10 article and news video
CBSMiami news video
update Oct 8 The AP has an article which has been picked up by numerous outlets.
BuzzFeed has a thread
“The governing body of all stomach centric sports” may not be the optimal motto because it implicitly makes incidents like this IFOCE/MLE’s responsibility.
Six Flags amusement parks are holding a series of cockroach eating contests awarding a season pass (these might be cancelled due to the death) Texas | Maryland | Chicago
Topix.com has a thread about the death of Eddy Archbold after winning a roach eating contest held at Ben Siegel’s Reptiles in Deerfield Beach, FL Friday night. A post on the store’s facebook page says it currently lacks any details about the incident. (announcement for the contest) update The store’s UStream channel has a video of the contest (starts around 2 hour mark) in which there are no obvious signs of distress. Another video has been uploaded to youtube, but is now private. Pretty Ninjaa’s twitter feed has tweets about the incident.
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Sarah B said
October 7, 2012 @ 11:20 pm
I made the video private because it didn’t feel right to leave it up after hearing about Eddie’s passing. Maybe if I receive something from his family saying they are okay with it, I will put it back up. I just want to be respectful of the departed and their loved ones. I feel terrible that this happened, and feel worse even having been a spectator, basically watching a man kill himself over a snake.
That being said, I don’t think Ben Siegel’s should be entirely to blame here. The contestants knew what they were getting into. Anyone who participated has a duty to research what they are about to do to their bodies and to know their limits. They put on an unbelievable event, it was well received and enjoyed. I can tell you I had a great time, and Eddie definitely contributed to that amazing time. I really had wanted to congratulate him but I didn’t see him before I left.
I know there are a lot of emotions here, but please try to remember that we are all responsible for our own actions. I was an observer of the event, and I am herp hobbyist. It’s true, things like this make the hobby look bad. But that’s life. There will always be a few terrible tragedies that overshadow the better contributions we make.
Let’s try to be respectful, as I am sure everyone involved, whether it be the family, friends, those who put on the event, or even bystanders, feel awful about this. I know I was extremely shocked to see the comment on my video.
My condolences to anyone who knew him, he seemed like a character for sure, and just watching him brought a lot of joy as well as a bit of cringing. But I certainly won’t forget him, he made an impression in the little time I watched him.
Rest in peace, Eddie.
anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 1:24 am
this was not a sanctioned IFOCE event
Anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 5:08 am
Sp sad. So tragic. May Eddy never run out of bugs in the afterlife.
Anonymously said
October 8, 2012 @ 9:29 am
They could of held this contest in beautiful brians apartment. Plenty of bugs to eat.
Anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 3:39 pm
Brian’s bugs won’t harm you.
beautifulbrian said
October 8, 2012 @ 4:58 pm
i concur with 929. I cant get rid of them
anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 8:04 pm
Nice linkback
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/man-dies-after-eating-30-roaches-30-worms-and-100
what the fk said
October 8, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
Now the full story is coming across the wire.. He died at the store. Right after the contest. And it was differ kind of bugs. The freakin media are waiting to see after autopsy to jump all over this.in the end they come after eating contests. Thanks people who do not take competitive eating real.
what the fk said
October 8, 2012 @ 10:00 pm
I Horn worms have only 3% fat and they have a better calcium ratio. Tomato hornworms are very poisonous if taken from the wild because of them eating tomato leaves.
This is one of the worms eaten in the contest. Had the dam store know anything it would know this. eating one would not make a pet sick. eating 100. well we seen what happen didn’t we.
Anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 10:39 pm
While this is bound to get lots of attention, I fail to see a great deal of difference between eating bugs and eating oyster prairies or many of the things eaten in contests. What seems disgusting to one person may not be to another, and other cultures regularly eat bugs of various sorts. Asian cultures stir fry crickets and coat them with sauce, it is that he died AND likely there was no EMT overseeing the contest. This is what MLE does perfectly. Safety first. Yes, it is weird or seems weird and an autopsy may show that he got a bug caught in his windpipe. Whatever the reason, I do not see this at all as the end of competitive eating, not even close.
anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 11:00 pm
A real idiot if you ask me .He did it to himself What crazy fool would eat worms and flesh eating insects? They probably ate his insides apart. I do not feel sorry for someone that
anonymous said
October 8, 2012 @ 11:18 pm
I would hate to see the results of the autopsy. His intestines must have been eaten alive like the movie alien
Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)
October 9, 2012 @ 10:53 am
Insecticide!
#Sad
ANM said
October 10, 2012 @ 3:33 am
some places were reporting that he ate millipedes, why would they let them do that?? Millis aren’t safe!
Man Dies After Eating 30 Roaches, 30 Worms And 100 Millipedes | StoryPress24 said
January 11, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
[…] The news spread quickly on message boards — especially within the eating-contest community. […]
anonymous said
January 11, 2015 @ 2:02 pm
First off thete is no reason for OJ to repost the thread unless he enjoys inciting more bullshit from Goldstein. Second sarah B who posted the first comment made it seem as though this man died from natural causes by saying ” eddies passing” Not the same. He responsible for his own actions with this ridiculous life threatening turned fatality lamebrain stunt
Man Dies After Eating 30 Roaches, 30 Worms And 100 MillipedesPix Article | Pix Article said
October 24, 2015 @ 8:45 am
[…] The news spread quickly on message boards — especially within the eating-contest community. […]