Bun company faces heat - Family demands support after man dies during snack-eating contest

The family of the man who tragically died at a bun-eating competition has opened talks with the pastry company that hosted the promotion, seeking answers and support.

Kerron Powell, 38, of Litchfield, Trelawny, was reportedly participating in the competition, which was part of a promotional event in Christiana, Manchester, last Saturday, when food became lodged in his throat.

Powell lived with disabilities and relied on a government disability programme for support.

"One of his hands hook up and one down, but he talks straight and everything else, only the hand just hook up to him stomach," his aunt, Carlene Johnson, said.

Johnson said that a representative of the company spoke with her shortly after the incident on Saturday and promised that help is on the way.

"On Saturday, after it happened ... they called me and told me that somebody was going to reach out to me on Monday," she said.

"Sunday, somebody called me and told me they couldn't wait until today, Monday, they have to call me and talk to me. I was telling them that we are going to need help because we don't have it. They said, 'Yes! Yes! We know that', and they are going to get somebody to call me back today," Johnson revealed.

Powell died at hospital after experiencing a medical emergency during the bun-eating competition. Johnson told THE STAR that her brother, who sells produce in Christiana, happened to be passing by and saw a man struggling in the crowd. At the time, he did not know it was his nephew.

"My brother, that's his uncle, say him had to assist him because when him see him in the crowd and the people dem a crowd round, because the youth eat the bun and like him a walk up and down and him a feel uncomfortable. Him say everybody a crowd round and nah assist him," she said.

Powell was eventually taken to the hospital by the promoters, who used their bun van to transport him.

She said that sometime after 2 p.m., her brother called with the shocking news, leaving her stunned.

"Him uncle call me say I must rush to the Percy Junior Hospital in Spaldings because Kerron die. I get a shock! Mi shock because him leave out here good, nothing never wrong with him," she recalled.

It remains unclear whether Powell received any medical attention at the event, an issue that has upset the family.

"Them should have had some medical team there, that's if anything they could have assisted who they have in competition. That's what we are here quarrelling about. Some medical team should be there, nobody was there, no medical team, just his uncle," she said.

Despite being born with a physical disability, Powell refused to let it define him. His aunt said he lived a normal life, working alongside others on their farms and contributing to his community.

"Him used to do him little farming, like you have people do the farm, and him go out and work. Every day him gone," she said.

Johnson said the sudden death has placed additional financial strain on the family, which is reeling from the effects of Hurricane Melissa.

Johnson said she was unsure if it was Powell's first time entering such a competition, but described him as one who "was very fun and jovial, give joke, and everything him push up in a it".

"It really sad because mi deh here from dem time deh, I can't eat or do nothing because it's so sad, so sad," she said.

With her voice shaking, she said the family is struggling to cope with the loss.

"We are just here, we are mourning just trying to keep up and right now we don't have it, so we just a hope for the best," she said. "This is just so sudden. We never did a look for this right now. So wi just a cope. Right now I just don't know. The hurricane affect us bad too because the house top did just come off. So wi just [patch] it up. Even now it still a leak."