Woman died in marshmallow-eating contest led by children’s entertainer, coroner hears

Natalie Buss was given 60 seconds to fit as many marshmallows as she could in her mouth
Natalie Buss was given 60 seconds to fit as many marshmallows as she could in her mouth - Wales news service

An accountant died after taking part in a competition to see how many marshmallows she could fit into her mouth in one minute, a coroner’s court heard.

Natalie Buss, 37, a mother of two, was called up by a children’s entertainer to see who could “fit the most marshmallows into their mouths” in front of other parents at the party.

She swallowed handfuls of the dozens of pink and white marshmallows lined up on the podium but collapsed after leaving the stage at a rugby club.

A pre-inquest review was told Christopher Gibbons, 34, a popular entertainer, led the competition and had been taken on by the club for a fundraising night for the under-10’s rugby team where her son played.

The hearing was told he set up the marshmallow competition at Beddau RFC near Pontypridd, South Wales in October 2023.

Mr Gibbons, known as “Roly-Poly” and who was described as an “established entertainer”, has hosted hundreds of parties as a DJ and entertainer for more than 15 years.

Christopher Gibbons
Christopher Gibbons has hosted hundreds of parties as a DJ and entertainer - Wales news service

The hearing was told he has “since decided to stop introducing the game to people” since Mrs Buss died.

The 6ft 6ins entertainer was the DJ compere at the fundraising event for the junior team which includes her elder son at the rugby club.

Mrs Buss, of Church Village, won a bingo game where she was called up for the marshmallow contest.

Contestants were given a time limit of 60 seconds to see how many marshmallows they could swallow – cheered on by family and friends in the clubhouse.

Paramedics were called as members of the audience, including an off-duty nurse, tried to help while a woman ran to a nearby school to fetch a defibrillator.

But Mrs Buss could not be saved and the audience was left in shock with many in tears.

Gibbons to give evidence to jury

Mr Gibbons has been interviewed by police and the inquest heard he will give evidence to a full jury.

Coroner Gavin Knox told the hearing at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court the scope of the inquest would “focus on risk assessment and risk mitigation relating to the game”.

He said it would assess what happened while she played the game as well as a cause of death – and the “appropriateness” of the entertainment provided at the club.

Mr Knox said he would feel “mandated to sit with a jury” for the inquest which is likely to be heard next year.

Mr Knox explained to the court he must sit with a jury if he had reason to suspect Mrs Buss’s death could have resulted from a “notifiable accident”.

It has been reported to the health and safety executive for investigation.

The coroner could flag it up as an avoidable accident reported to a government department after it results in someone’s death.

Beddau RFC said the club and community were “heartbroken” following her death.