22-Year-Old Fights for Life After Swallowing Entire Burger in Shocking 'Joke'

On November 13, 2025, a 22-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition at the G. Gennimatas Hospital in Koropi, Greece, after he swallowed an entire burger while having a meal with his friends. According to eyewitness accounts, the young man, whose identity has not been revealed, began panicking and collapsed on the ground after swallowing the burger.

His friends initially thought he was going to spit it out, but the man was unable to do so and started hitting his back against a column, likely in a desperate attempt to dislodge the burger. Tragically, the man stopped breathing for two full minutes, leading medical experts to express grave concerns over his health.

As of November 14, 2025, the 22-year-old remains on a ventilator and in critical condition, with doctors struggling to stabilize him due to the significant damage his vital organs have already suffered. The former president of the Athens-Piraeus Hospital Doctors Association, Matina Pagoni, described the situation as "tragic circumstances" for the young man who was simply trying to have some fun.

Authorities are now investigating the incident, seeking footage from the restaurant to determine if anyone had encouraged the man to attempt the dangerous stunt. The president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers, Michalis Giannakos, questioned how it was possible for a young person to swallow an entire burger without chewing, stating that the man can only be saved by a "miracle" given his extremely critical condition.