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It was all fun and games at first, and Natalie Buss was all smiles as she walked onto the stage at a rugby club's fundraiser.
Natalie (37), from Wales, had just won a game of bingo, and had been invited to take part in a party game challenge where she tried to stuff as many marshmallows into her mouth as she could.
Her 10-year-old son belonged to the rugby club and she'd been enjoying the night out, guests said afterwards.
The mom-of-two was laughing as she grabbed the pink and white sweets, and the audience cheered her on, until she collapsed to the floor, unable to breathe.
Medics at the event rushed to her aid, but they were unable to save her as she choked to death.
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“The DJ and everyone in the audience were counting as each marshmallow went into her mouth," recounted a witness of her death last Saturday at the Beddau Rugby Football Club in South Wales.
"She was laughing at the same time, and it was like she sucked the marshmallows further into her mouth. One minute everyone was enjoying themselves and whooping; the next she was on the floor.
“It was dreadful to watch it happen in front of you. Her airway was blocked by the marshmallows."
The rugby club, in a statement, described Natalie as "a wonderful wife, mother, and daughter. The club and the Beddau community are heartbroken. On Saturday night, we lost a very dear friend who will be sadly missed.
"As a club, we send out our sincerest, heartfelt condolences to all the family, the close friends, and all those that this has so badly impacted. You are all in our thoughts today.”
The police, as well as the local city council, are investigating Natalie's death, the latter as the area's health and safety regulator and licensing authority.
Attention is often focused on the safety of children when it comes to the dangers of choking but adults are also at risk.
Games like Chubby Bunny, where people stuff their mouths with marshmallows, without swallowing any, can be deadly because marshmallows won't melt or dissolve in the mouth.
Instead, they retain their shape, and once they come into contact with saliva, they turn into a gluey, sticky mess which is difficult to swallow or chew, and hard to dislodge with the Heimlich manoeuvre or with medical instruments.
SOURCES:THEMIRROR.CO.UK, BBC.COM, THEGUARDIAN.COM, WALESONLINE.CO.UK, MESHBESHER.COM, 7NEWS.COM.AU
