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A 32-year-old woman who collapsed after a marshmallow eating-and-talking contest at the Western Fair this week has died in a London hospital, a spokesperson said yesterday.
The woman was identified as Janet Rudd of 68 Grand Ave. by two sources contacted by The Free Press yesterday.
One said Rudd was working at a horticultural booth at the fair with her twin sister, Jennifer, on Tuesday night.
"She took a break and never came back," said the source.
"Janet was a sweet, shy person and they would have had to talk her into the event. I'm sure she would have been a reluctant participant. It's not something you would expect her to do."
A friend said last night the woman's family, who declined comment, wanted to be left alone to mourn in private.
Rudd collapsed offstage Tuesday night just after the daily Chubby Bunny contest.
The event, since cancelled by the fair, requires contestants to pop one marshmallow at a time into their mouths and say "chubby bunny" to amuse spectators until they can't say it anymore.
St. John's Ambulance staff came to Rudd's aid with a defibrillator and suction equipment, but were unable to remove the blockage in the unconscious woman's throat.
Thames Valley EMS paramedics took her to Victoria Hospital, where she had remained in critical condition.
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2006/09/15/1842947-sun.html