A US-based autopsy technician has issued a serious warning to elderly people about a surprising danger: eating steak. Speaking to Newsweek, the technician, named Dolly, shared that she has seen multiple deaths caused by choking on meat, especially among older adults.
Based on her work at a Colorado morgue, Dolly explained that many seniors struggle to chew and swallow properly, making certain foods, like steak, a potential choking hazard.
"You can't chew anymore. You're going to choke and die, and then you end up in the morgue. And I have to retrieve it from your oesophagus. It is disgusting," she told Newsweek.
Dolly also urged people to stay away from physical fights or confrontations, especially those who provoke others using phrases like "What are you gonna do? Stab me?" or "What are you gonna do? Shoot me?"
She said she’s seen real-life cases where those very words were spoken, and the outcomes turned tragic.
From her years of experience, Dolly has compiled a list of everyday behaviours that have led to unexpected and often fatal accidents. These include:
Avoid provocative phrases in arguments
Skip steak in old age
Don't lean into washing machines
Never trust cheap car jacks
Avoid wearing loose clothes near machinery
Wear proper gear while riding motorcycles
Dolly’s work has exposed her to a wide range of fatal scenarios, from skydiving accidents and plane crashes to mining disasters, decapitations, and even people being run over by steamrollers.
Her role includes performing private autopsies, assisting in homicide investigations, and handling cases in hospital and forensic settings. She now travels often to help with different types of deaths, including complex and sensitive cases.
Dolly also shares her experiences on social media, not to shock people, but to help normalise conversations around death, something she believes is still taboo in Western culture.
"I've basically seen it all, but then something new pops up and surprises me. It's so fragile but so resilient... It's honestly mind-blowing," she said.
Through her work and online posts, Dolly hopes to make discussions about death more open, so that people can better cope with grief and loss when it touches their lives.
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