A 22-year-old student has died after a weeklong battle for life in an intensive care unit, the result of a choking incident involving a burger in the Athenian suburb of Koropi.
The man, whose name has not been publicly released, was rushed to Gennimatas Hospital on Nov. 14. Despite extensive efforts to stabilize him, doctors described his condition as non-reversible from the outset.
The victim's grandfather appeared on Skai TV to firmly dismiss circulating social media rumors that the incident resulted from an online "food challenge."
"He didn’t do any challenge, nothing like that," the grandfather said. "It was the last bite he took. He didn’t chew it very well, and it got stuck in his throat. He panicked."
The grandfather described how the student attempted to dislodge the obstruction by hitting himself against a pillar before collapsing. Emergency responders found him unresponsive at the scene.
The victim had traveled to Athens from the island of Kos, where he worked, to visit friends before returning home.
He was three courses away from completing a degree in tourism.
"The only thing I want you to stress is that his memory must not be stained by these claims," the grandfather added. "He was — and is for us — one of the best kids. You wouldn’t wish this on anyone."
The tragedy has sparked public discussion in Greece regarding the need for mandatory Heimlich maneuver training in restaurants and crowded venues.