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| Man dies during pie eating contest | Man dies during pie eating contest |
| (2 months later) | |
| A man has died after collapsing during a pie-eating contest at a pub in Queensland's north-east. | A man has died after collapsing during a pie-eating contest at a pub in Queensland's north-east. |
| Bruce Holland, 64, was one of eight people who took part in the competition at the Bushland Beach Tavern at Townsville on Wednesday night during the State of Origin rugby league match. | Bruce Holland, 64, was one of eight people who took part in the competition at the Bushland Beach Tavern at Townsville on Wednesday night during the State of Origin rugby league match. |
| He collapsed while eating a chilli pie and was rushed to Townsville Hospital but died at around 10:30 pm. | He collapsed while eating a chilli pie and was rushed to Townsville Hospital but died at around 10:30 pm. |
| According to the Townsville Bulletin his final words were: "Jeez, this chilli pie is hot". | According to the Townsville Bulletin his final words were: "Jeez, this chilli pie is hot". |
| Arthur McMahon, the representative of the Lillywhite Hotel Group, which owns the tavern, said Holland was a well-respected local who had been going to the pub for more than three years. | Arthur McMahon, the representative of the Lillywhite Hotel Group, which owns the tavern, said Holland was a well-respected local who had been going to the pub for more than three years. |
| "It was a very sad day today, as he was a very well-respected person down there," McMahon said on Thursday. | "It was a very sad day today, as he was a very well-respected person down there," McMahon said on Thursday. |
| "Whenever he was there, he always had lots of company and friends." | "Whenever he was there, he always had lots of company and friends." |
| McMahon said there had been a merry atmosphere at the pub before Holland collapsed. | McMahon said there had been a merry atmosphere at the pub before Holland collapsed. |
| "It was half-time during the game, and we had the big screen out the back, and everyone was having a very enjoyable time," he said. | "It was half-time during the game, and we had the big screen out the back, and everyone was having a very enjoyable time," he said. |
| McMahon told the Townsville Bulletin that Holland had only taken a few mouthfuls before he started to choke. | McMahon told the Townsville Bulletin that Holland had only taken a few mouthfuls before he started to choke. |
| "He started to gasp and sat down with a glass of water and then passed out," McMahon said. "There were seven other people in the competition and the meat was not overly hot," he added. | "He started to gasp and sat down with a glass of water and then passed out," McMahon said. "There were seven other people in the competition and the meat was not overly hot," he added. |
| "It's one of those tragedies that just happens – it was very difficult for us to know whether it was something that could have been avoided." | "It's one of those tragedies that just happens – it was very difficult for us to know whether it was something that could have been avoided." |
| McMahon said it was hoped more would be known following investigations, including whether Holland had a medical condition. | McMahon said it was hoped more would be known following investigations, including whether Holland had a medical condition. |
| Holland was a resident of the nearby suburb of Beach Holm. | Holland was a resident of the nearby suburb of Beach Holm. |
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