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Last updated on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
(MIAMI FL.) - The winner of a roach-eating contest in South Florida died shortly after downing dozens of the live bugs as well as worms, authorities said Monday.
About 30 contestants ate the insects during Friday night's contest at Ben Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach about 40 miles north of Miami. The grand prize was a python.
Edward Archbold, 32, of West Palm Beach became ill shortly after the contest ended and collapsed in front of the store, according to a Broward Sheriff's Office statement released Monday. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities were waiting for results of an autopsy to determine a cause of death.
Michael Adams, professor of entomology at the University of California at Riversides says unless the roaches were contaminated with some bacteria or other pathogens, the cockroaches would be unsafe to eat, but some people do have allergies to roaches, but there are no toxins in roaches or related insects.
None of the other contestants became ill, the sheriff's office said.
Store owner Ben Siegel said Archbold did not appear sick before the event and added he was the "life of the party." Seigle says Archbold was selling the exotic prize to a friend who took him to the contest.
A statement from Siegel's attorney said all the participants signed waivers "accepting responsibility for their participation in this unique and unorthodox contest."
The bugs consumed were from an inventory of insects "that are safely and domestically raised in a controlled environment as food for reptiles."
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