A man was rushed in for emergency surgery after drinking a liquid nitrogen cocktail, which left him fighting for his life over Christmas.
Served during a corporate festive bash in Moscow, the beverage ultimately ‘tore apart’ his stomach, with witnesses claiming guests were not warned of the risks beforehand.
It’s also alleged that the man was encouraged to drink the cocktail immediately by an unidentified celebrity chef.
The incident happened at a bash held at the Igra Stolov ‘Game of Tables’ cooking studio, where guests were being entertained with a theatrical ‘cryo-show’ by an esteemed cook.
Liquid nitrogen is commonly used in professional kitchens as a means of freezing ingredients instantly.
However, it poses extreme dangers if ingested before it fully evaporates, as experts have long warned.
Media reports in Moscow say the chef prepared flashy cocktails using the liquid, with guests laughing and joking around, unaware of the catastrophe that was to follow.
The guest, identified as Sergey, aged 38, was later seen clutching his stomach in agony, after which he collapsed.
Doctors later determined that the liquid nitrogen caused a rapid expansion of gas inside his body, rupturing his stomach.
He was rushed to intensive care, where surgeons carried out emergency surgery to repair the torn organ.
Thankfully, the partygoer was reported as conscious after the operation as he entered recovery, although his condition was still described as serious.
Liquid nitrogen boils violently at room temperature, and experts warn that consuming it before evaporation can lead to severe internal injuries or death.
When ingested, it rapidly turns into gas inside the body, expanding hundreds of times in volume.
This sudden expansion can cause severe internal pressure, leading to stomach rupture, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
The extreme cold can also freeze internal tissues, compounding the injury.
Drinks prepared with liquid nitrogen are only safe once all the nitrogen has fully evaporated.
If even a small amount remains, swallowing it can be life-threatening.
Consequently, what was meant to be a joyous office celebration ended in disaster and panic, with guests reportedly leaving in shock while medics fought to save the man’s life.
Medical experts warn that consuming liquid nitrogen directly has previously led to fatal injuries.
Its use in drinks is strictly regulated or discouraged in many countries.
In the UK, for example, in 2012, an MP called for liquid nitrogen cocktails to be banned completely after a teenage constituent needed to have her stomach removed after downing two on her 18th.
Then, in 2015, the wine bar concerned was fined £100,000, with a judge ruling that the venue’s actions ‘fell very far short of standards’.
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