Watermelon-eating competition ends in tragedy as man contestant chokes to death in front of his wife
The father-of-four had been competing against five other guests in a bid to win a prize, which, according to local reports, was a portion of French fries.
By TARYN KAUR PEDLER, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER
Published: 12:22 GMT, 29 December 2025 | Updated: 14:57 GMT, 29 December 2025
A watermelon-eating competition ended in tragedy after a male contestant choked to death in front of his wife.
Carlos Cerasomma, 37, had been participating in a game at a resort in Sao Pedro, Brazil, which tested who could eat a piece of watermelon the fastest from a low table as quickly as possible without using their hands.
The father-of-four had been competing against five other resort guests in a bid to win a prize, which, according to local reports, was a portion of French fries.
Shortly after the game began, at around 4.30pm on December 11, Cerasomma began to choke on the fruit, and a lifeguard was called to the scene.
A witness told Brazilian news outlet G1 Globo that the resort staff then began shouting to see whether any of them knew how to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre.
'A guest went to help, I believe she was a doctor. They took turns performing CPR. It took about 25 minutes for the firefighters to arrive,' the witness said.
The local fire department then transported him to the Emergency Care Unit in Sao Pedro at around 4.40 PM.
His death was confirmed at the hospital and recorded as physical asphyxiation caused by airway obstruction.
Carlos Cerasomma, 37, had been participating in a game at a resort in Sao Pedro, Brazil, which tested who could eat a piece of watermelon the fastest from a low table as quickly as possible without using their hands
The father-of-four had been competing against five other guests in a bid to win a prize, which, according to local reports, was a portion of French fries
'The victim choked on food and was taken to the UPA (Emergency Care Unit), but did not survive. The case was registered as a suspicious death at the Sao Pedro Police Station,' the fire department said in a statement.
Sao Pedro Thermas Resort told the news outlet: '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 and comfort during this time of great sadness.
'We reiterate our solidarity and respect for the family and friends, while preserving the privacy of all those involved'.
Following his death, Cerasomma's wife, Kimberly Santos, said the table was too low for his height of 5ft 11in, forcing him into a position that may have contributed to his choking.