A Dutch tourist choked to death after swallowing his car keys while on holiday in Barcelona.
The 37-year-old, whose identity has not been revealed, swallowed his car keys by accident and died later in hospital.
Local reports say he entered a supermarket in the Sarria district of Catalonia‘s capital and pleaded for help but was kicked out because they could not understand what he was saying.
The man was said to be “in an evident state of excitement and causing altercations,” according to a 20 Minutos report, when he entered the supermarket at around 10.15pm on August 5.
Staff at the supermarket notified the Guardia Urbana and officers had to intervene and restrain the man.
He collapsed outside the centre and the Urbana officers tried to resuscitate him before paramedics from the Sistema d’Emergencies Mediques (SEM) could arrive.
Medics discovered the car key had got stuck in his throat and removed them before rushing him to Sant Pau Hospital, where he died at 2.15am on August 6.
It is not clear if people could not understand him because he was speaking Dutch or if he could not speak clearly because of the keys in his throat.
Barcelona’s local police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, are investigating but it has not been established how the car keys got stuck in his throat.
The man, along with his family, were staying near the supermarket on Riera de Cassoles avenue in Barcelona.
The Dutch consulate has been informed of the incident, along with Barcelona City Council, and authorities are supporting the family.