"What Is This?" Fish Slips Through Lips in an Instant... Angler's Bizarre Ordeal [Health Talk]

[The Financial News] A middle-aged man experienced a bizarre accident while fishing when a live fish became lodged in his throat. After feeling discomfort and having difficulty breathing, he visited a hospital, where medical staff successfully removed the fish.
According to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, the man was fishing with a rod in a river when the caught fish suddenly leapt out of the water and into his mouth. He explained, "The fish went deep down my throat," adding, "I could clearly hear it flapping inside my neck."

A laryngoscopic examination revealed the tail of a large fish moving near the patient's larynx. The fish's head and body were deeply lodged in the esophagus and not visible to the naked eye. Attempts to remove it with Magill forceps were unsuccessful, and part of the fish's tail was damaged during the process.
Subsequently, radiological tests were performed to determine the exact depth of the fish inside the esophagus. The examination also indicated the possibility of esophageal perforation. The man was transferred to the National Hospital, and during transport, the fish suffocated and stopped moving. Ultimately, the medical team succeeded in removing the fish.

Medical staff stated, "Foreign body ingestion accidents are usually caused by fish bones, but it is extremely rare for a live, large fish to become lodged in the throat." They also warned, "If a foreign object blocks the airway, there is a risk of suffocation or death."
To prevent similar accidents, it is recommended to handle fish with rods or hands in a way that prevents them from jumping toward the mouth or throat. In particular, children and the elderly should avoid bringing live fish close to their mouths.

This case was reported in the medical journal Cureus.

hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter