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Russian man dies in searing heat at sauna contest
File under "Here, hold my vodka!"[Arab News] A Russian man trying to win the Sauna World Championships died after collapsing with severe burns in the final stage of an event that required contestants to sit in a 230-degree (110 Celsius) room as water was tossed onto a searing stove, officials and witnesses said. Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy, an amateur wrestler who was in his 60s, was pronounced dead late Saturday after he collapsed alongside reigning champion Timo Kaukonen of Finland roughly six minutes into the final round. Medical workers pulled both men out of the sauna in front of nearly 1,000 spectators in the southern Finnish town of Heinola. Whadda ya get for second place? Both were shaking and bleeding from what appeared to be severe burns, said Hakon Eikesdal, a photographer with the Norwegian daily Dagbladet. Kaukonen, about 40, was hospitalized in stable condition Sunday, contest spokesman Ossi Arvela said. The annual contest, which had over 130 participants from 15 countries, had been held since 1999. It will never be held again, Arvela said. Half a liter (a pint) of water is added to the stove every 30 seconds and the last person to remain at the sauna is the winner. Posted by: Fred 2010-08-09 |
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