Rare Illness Causes Man’s Esophagus to Explode After Eating Poisonous Food

A 59-year-old man in China made a fatal decision when he ate unknown street food, which triggered a violent reaction that led to the spontaneous rupture of his esophagus, known as Boerhaave syndrome. The incident highlights the life-threatening nature of this rare condition, which can be caused by severe vomiting or retching and has a mortality rate ranging from 60% to 100% if left untreated within 12 to 24 hours.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/06/man-eats-dubious-street-food-ends-up-blowing-apart-his-gi-tract