A 35-year-old man in India wanted to cure his infertility but instead of seeking medical help, he allegedly sought help “traditionally”, at the cost of his life.
Anand Yadav died of suffocation after swallowing a live chick, believing that it could cure his infertility.
The villagers suspected it to be an act driven by occult practices to fulfil his wish of becoming a father and speculated that his actions might have been influenced by superstitious beliefs as he was in touch with a local occult leader.
Anand returned home from a bath and collapsed after complaining about feeling dizzy. His family members rushed him to the hospital where the doctors were initially unclear of the cause of death, reported India Today.
Doctors were shocked by the findings
After making an incision on his throat, the doctors were shocked to find a 20 CM chick stuck there in a U-shape, obstructing both airways and the food passage, causing asphyxiation (the state of being deprived of oxygen).
“A 20-centimetre-long chick became stuck in a U-shape after possibly fluttering its wings, blocking not only the windpipe but also obstructing the oesophagus, the food pipe that connects the throat to the stomach,” Dr. Santu bag explained.
He added that he has conducted over 15,000 post mortems but this was the first time in his career that he discovered something so bizarre.
The longing for a child
In another report by The New Indian Express, Anand’s family said he had been wanting a child after being married for 15 years.
Out of desperation, Anand had been in touch with an occult leader, whom he met with every Monday. Anand paid INR200 (approximately RM10) for a black chick and swallowed it whole, which led to his death.
What other superstitions have you heard of?