Alexander Pisarev, a Russian MMA star, tragically passed away after reportedly eating a watermelon.
The 33-year-old athlete was a former Moscow champion in hand-to-hand combat and grappling. He reached the final of the MMA European Championships and fought under banners such as Absolute Championship Berkut and Fight Nights Global.
On October 30, 2022, the athlete - who had gained a professional MMA record of 3-2 before his passing - was found unconscious in his apartment by his father, Igor Vladimirovich.
His sports club, Tomahawk Sports Club, shared a statement following news of his death, writing: "My brother, my friend, my student! Words cannot express the extent of the loss," as cited by The Mirror.
"Alexander Pisarev is the standard of friendship, decency, and courage of a Russian person. We and I will miss you! Rest in peace, our brother," they added.
A few days after his passing, Pisarev's father spoke with the Shot Telegram channel and said that when he "looked into the room" where Pisarev and his wife were sleeping, he "came closer" and realized that his son was not breathing.
"There were fractures of the fingers after the last fights, but this is nothing. We all eat the same food, we live together," Vladimirovich added.
Furthermore, an unidentified member of Pisarev's Tomahawk team has claimed that the athlete's death was a result of food poisoning. According to the Daily Mail, he spoke to the Russian news agency TASS and said: "Alexander Pisarev died in his sleep and did not have any chronic health problems. According to preliminary data, death was the result of food poisoning."
Russian media outlet Pravda also alleged that the MMA star passed away after consuming a watermelon with his wife - who was reportedly taken to the hospital and survived the ordeal.
At the time, the Moscow Region Investigative Committee released a statement that read: "In Balashikha, an investigation was organized into the death of an athlete as a result of poisoning," per The Mirror.
"Investigators, with the participation of a forensic specialist, are conducting an additional inspection of the scene, confiscating items relevant to the investigation, and planning a forensic chemical examination," they added.
Healthline explained that watermelons can be fatal in some circumstances due to their outer skin becoming contaminated as they are grown close to the ground.
According to the site, you need to be wary of fruits such as cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew melon as they have an increased chance of causing food poisoning due to Listeria bacteria - which can develop on the rind of the fruit and spread to the flesh.
The report urges everyone to thoroughly clean their fruits before they eat them to help limit the risks of food poisoning. They also advise storing it in the fridge if it is not eaten straight away.
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