Taco eating
After the choking incident, a spokesman for the Fresno Grizzlies, Paul Braverman mentioned in a statement that not only the team but the whole organization was devastated when they learned about the death of their fan. Photo by Hana Brannigan from Pexels

After a California man choked to death while participating in an amateur taco eating contest during a minor league baseball, his son is now suing the organizers of the event, the Fresno Grizzlies, due to their negligence.

The man was identified as 41-year-old Dana Hutchings who died on August 13, 2019, when the Fresno Grizzlies inserted a taco eating contest between game innings as part of the 9th Annual Taco Truck Throwdown.

According to ABC News, Dana's Son, 18-year-old Marshall Hutchings filed a lawsuit on Monday and claimed that his father was allegedly not informed about the risks and danger that he might face in joining the eating competition. The suit also named Fresno Sports and Events as the owner of the Grizzlies. The suit also mentioned that during the taco eating contest, participants competed to finish as many tacos as possible during a certain limit of time.

Moreover, the attorney of Hutchings, Martin Taleisnik, emphasized that professionals in the sport of competitive eating train. He also added that they allotted a specific period of time in making themselves physically ready to participate in those kinds of events.

Taleisnik also added that despite the possible threat of choking, it is not always present in an amateur eating contest. The attorney also mentioned that the conductors of the event should have made the risks known to participants and have taken steps in protecting them as well, The Fresno Bee reported.

On the other hand, the Fresno Grizzlies President Derek Frank mentioned in an email that they will not be making any public comments regarding the matter.

A Taco-Eating Contest Choke

Tony Botti, the spokesman of the Fresno Sheriff initially reported that Dana Hutchings died shortly after arriving at a hospital.

After the choking incident, a spokesman for the Fresno Grizzlies, Paul Braverman mentioned in a statement that not only the team but the whole organization was devastated when they learned about the death of their fan. He also added that the team would work closely with the local authorities in providing any information that could help in the investigation. Braverman also assured that any assistance will be provided once requested, The Guardian reported.

After the choking incident, organizers immediately canceled the competition, including the World Taco Eating Competition set on that following weekend.

One of the audiences who witnessed the taco eating contest from his seat was Matthew Boylan. Boylan shared that he noticed the victim, Hutchings, right away as he was eating so fast compared to the other two participants.

He also added that Hutchings was just shoving all the tacos down in his mouth without even chewing it. Boylan also said that about seven minutes into the contest, Hutchings collapsed and hit his face on a table, then fell to the ground. After the organizers realized what happened to Hutchings, they immediately stopped the competition and brought the 41-year-old California man to the hospital.

Competitive eating contests have become major attractions at festivals and other events as magnets participants across the United States.

WATCH: Family of man who died during taco eating contest sues Fresno Grizzlies' owner - CBS47 KSEE24