A man was left fighting for his life after his stomach was ‘torn apart’ by a liquid nitrogen cocktail served by a celebrity chef during a corporate Christmas party in Moscow.
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 the unidentified chef.
The chef prepared flashy cocktails using liquid nitrogen – a substance commonly used in professional kitchens to instantly freeze ingredients, but dangerous if ingested before it fully evaporates, said media reports in Moscow.
Witnesses said guests were not warned of the risks and that the chef allegedly encouraged one man to drink the cocktail immediately.
Amid laughter, the guest, identified as Sergey, 38, complied with catastrophic consequences.
Sergey was 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.
Guests say the chef encouraged the guest, identified as Sergey, to drink the cocktail which had liquid nitrogen
The man keeled over in agony and had to be rushed to intensive care after the drink raptured his stomach
The reveller was later reported as conscious and recovering, though doctors described his condition 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.
What was meant to be a festive office celebration ended in panic, with guests reportedly left in shock as medics fought to save the man’s life.
Liquid nitrogen is extremely dangerous if swallowed.
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.
The drink which caused Sergey’s stomach to rapture. Liquid nitrogen can be extremely dangerous when swallowed
Surgeons had to carry out an emergency operation to repair the torn organ
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.
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 2015, a UK woman’s life and health were changed when she was served a Nigtro-Jagermeister shot, which contained liquid nitrogen.
She collapsed in agony and had to be rushed to the hospital, where her stomach was removed and connected directly to her small bowel to save her life.
