October 20, 2025 – Taichung City, Taiwan
A tragic incident occurred in Taichung City after a 64-year-old woman from Wufeng District died from choking on a piece of guava she had been eating at home on Sunday afternoon.
According to reports, the woman was eating the fruit around noon on October 19 when she accidentally swallowed a large piece that became lodged in her throat, blocking her airway. She quickly lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
Family members, noticing that something was wrong, found her collapsed on the floor with her face turning black from lack of oxygen. They immediately called 119 for emergency assistance.
The Taichung City Fire Department dispatched personnel from the Xinan and Wufeng stations, sending an ambulance and a patrol car with three firefighters and one volunteer responder. Upon arrival, rescuers found the woman in a state of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) — showing no signs of breathing or pulse. Emergency first aid was administered before she was rushed to Asia University Hospital for treatment.
Hospital officials reported that the woman was in critical condition upon arrival. Medical teams managed to briefly restore her heartbeat after intensive resuscitation efforts, but she remained unconscious and in life-threatening condition. Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, her health continued to decline throughout the night.
By early morning on October 20, the woman’s family made the painful decision to withdraw life support after her condition showed no improvement. She was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Authorities remind the public to take precautions while eating, especially for elderly individuals who may be at higher risk of choking. Chewing food thoroughly and avoiding hurried eating can help prevent such tragic incidents.