A festive corporate Christmas party in Moscow descended into chaos and horror after a guest was left fighting for his life, his stomach torn apart by a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen.
A Theatrical 'Cryo-Show' Turns Catastrophic
The incident occurred at the Igra Stolov 'Game of Tables' cooking studio, where an unidentified celebrity chef was entertaining guests with a theatrical performance known as a 'cryo-show'. As part of the display, the chef prepared flashy cocktails using liquid nitrogen, a substance used in professional kitchens for instant freezing.
Critical warnings about the dangers of the chemical were allegedly not given to the revellers. Witnesses reported that the chef encouraged a guest, named as 38-year-old Sergey, to drink his cocktail immediately. Amid laughter from the party, Sergey complied with what would become a catastrophic decision.
Emergency Surgery After Stomach Rupture
The consequences were swift and severe. Sergey was seen clutching his stomach in agony before collapsing. He was rushed to intensive care where doctors discovered the liquid nitrogen had caused a rapid expansion of gas inside his body, rupturing his stomach.
Surgeons performed an emergency operation to repair the torn organ. While later reported as conscious and recovering, doctors described his condition as serious following the life-threatening ordeal.
The Deadly Danger of Ingesting Liquid Nitrogen
Experts emphasise the extreme peril of consuming liquid nitrogen before it has fully evaporated. At room temperature, it boils violently. If swallowed, it turns into gas hundreds of times its original volume almost instantly.
This sudden expansion creates immense internal pressure, which can lead to:
- Stomach rupture
- Severe internal bleeding
- Critical organ damage
- Freezing of internal tissues
The use of liquid nitrogen in drinks is strictly regulated or discouraged in many countries due to these risks. The Moscow case chillingly echoes a 2015 incident in the UK, where a woman had to have her stomach removed after consuming a Nitro-Jagermeister shot containing the substance.
What was meant to be a joyful office celebration ended in panic, leaving guests in shock as medics battled to save Sergey's life—a stark reminder that such theatrical culinary stunts carry potentially fatal consequences.
