Ghost Pepper Rips Hole in SF Man's Esophagus, Collapses His Lung (2016)

So not the pepper itself, but the vomiting afterwards? Very unfortunate and scary, but would have preferred a more accurate headline.

Yeah that threw me off as well. Had to do a little reading on [Boerhaave Syndrome](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/171683-overview) to have it make a little more sense. The rupturing is caused by forced vomiting, of which the hot pepper in this case was the catalyst.

Yes. This ultimately killed my grandfather (esophageal rupture). The subsequent infection and inability to eat or breathe is bad. Its also quite possible his esophagus was thin, which can happen due to acid reflux among other causes.

I hate to be the one to ask...but why is this on HN?

It's noteworthy.

It's sunday. it's interesting. Spicy foods are interesting due to the endorphin rush.

It happened in SF

Someone was hoping for magic Internet points.

I can't imagine how this felt when it came out the other end. Ouch.