Man chokes to death at South Dakota hot dog eating contest
Published July 08, 2014

CUSTER, S.D. – A Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in western South Dakota turned tragic when a contestant choked to death.

Walter Eagle Tail, 47, of Custer, died at a hospital Thursday after attempts to save him at the scene failed, Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler told the Rapid City Journal.

"There was someone doing CPR when we arrived," Wheeler said. "He probably just suffocated. It got lodged in his throat and they (paramedics) couldn't get it out.

"It all happened within minutes," the sheriff said.

The Custer Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the contest, canceled a pie-eating contest scheduled for Friday.

"We are at a loss for words," Chamber Executive Director Dave Ressler said. "We are mourning for Walter and his family right now."

Speed-eating competitions are popular over the Fourth of July weekend. Eight-time champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut managed to eat 61 hot dogs in 10 minutes at an annual contest in Coney Island, New York, on Friday -- eight short of the record 69 he swallowed in the 2013 competition.

George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating, a competitive eating organization based in New York, said organizers do all they can to prevent casualties during contests.

"We always make sure it's in a controlled environment," Shea said. "We organize the entire thing around safety. (Just as) if it's football or hockey or auto racing, we approach it as a top priority."'

Funeral arrangements were pending for Eagle Tail, whom friends described as a fun-loving, kind and caring man.

"Walter was just being Walter, having fun when he entered this contest," said Ardis McRae. "He was just having a good time."


Film at 11.... 🤦

Town of Custer, South Dakota....
Sued into bankruptcy by "The Hot dog Widow"
Future AP story in 2015....

Poor Tail.

Tail would never choke to death on a hot-dog. He's got way too much experience.

I built up a tolerance in prison.

I heard you're able to stick your tongue out around the hot dog, breathe through your nose and hold that position for a full day.

I was just showing off for that viral youtube video.
But I'm happy you watched the full 24 hours.

TW published a cliff-notes.

This is freaking WEIRD!
On Saturday, I think it was, I was listening to ESPN radio, and Linda Cohn and Ira Fritz were talking about sports, TV ratings for certain sports, etc.,.......came about because of the World Cup ratings.
Anyways, the discussion moved to Joey Chestnut defending his title at the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest, etc......................and then Ira Fritz says something like "I wonder what the ratings for Hot Dog eating contests will be when someone has a coronary, because it's bound to happen right?"
He was half joking, but they both said the "sport" will go on.

Edit:
Found it. - It's Linda And Ira Fritz (long time ESPN producer) - starts at about the 20 minute mark - was taped on July 3rd......still very weird
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=11172810 

I will be in custer SD thursday. guess I'm too late.

You think they've banned hot dogs..?? 😕

What a custer fluck

I wonder what they did with all the pies.... 🤔 🤔

The guy on the 4th who won Nathan's Coney Island contest ate 61 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

😟

And finally Monsieur a wafer thin mint.

I couldn't!........no......
Just one Monsieur.......

Hey drafter. I'm in Custer right now. I'll check it out.

Maybe I can score some of the left over pie.

I through a rock at a buffalo yesterday.

Excellent..!!! 👍

I'm heading to Lawton for the weekend a little later... I'll stop by the Mountains there and throw rocks at da buffalo as well... 🤣

Did you take a Frisbee with you..?? if you find a quiet little stream you should pan for some gold and stuff.... 😟

I saw these huge heads on a mountain top. They looked almost unnatural.