Frenchman swallowes 350 coins after drunken bet

A 62-year-old Frenchman died after swallowing 350 coins in a drunken bet with a romanian 27-year-old.

The Frenchman had a history of psychiatric illness and was admitted to hospital for his swollen stomach. He couldn't eat, drink or go to the toilet.

Doctors were puzzled as to what was the cause of his illness, but after they carried out an X-ray they were astounded by what they saw. The man's stomach was completely filled with coins.

Reportedly the man had a bet going with Gigi Florin, a Romanian 27-year-old, over who could swallow the most coins. Mr. Florin swallowed 120 coins and the Frenchman swallowed 350, the equivelant of 5.5 kilograms (12 pounds) or a bowling ball!

Mr. Florin said that by drinking warm wine while swallowing the coins their stomachs would relax and the coins could be swallowed without any bother. But after 120 coins he collapsed and the bar staff called in an ambulance.

Doctors at the hospital didn't believe the story until they saw the coins in Mr. Florin's stomach with their own eyes. "When we X-rayed him we found a large pile of coins in his stomach. I tried to count the money but I couldn't as there was too much." said Dr. Mircea Coada.

Mr. Florin's French friend died at Cholet General Hospital in western France after receiving stomach surgery. His family said it wasn't the first time he swallowed coins.

Posted in Health & Food by Paul van der Maas