Alexander Pisarev: MMA star, 33, found dead in his sleep after 'eating poisoned watermelon'
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: In shocking news, Russian Mixed Martial Arts star Alexander Pisarev has died as a result of food poisoning after he allegedly consumed a poisonous watermelon. Pisarev's body was found on Sunday, October 30 at his apartment in Moscow's Balashikha, where he had been staying with his wife and father.
“Alexander Pisarev died in his sleep and did not have any chronic health problems. According to preliminary data, death was the result of food poisoning,” claimed an unnamed member of the featherweight’s Tomahawk team to the Russian news agency TASS. Many media platforms claimed that the sportsman had eaten poisonous watermelon with his wife, and the latter has been hospitalized, though they had consumed other food too. Pisarev's father, Igor Vladimirovich, found him lifeless when he got back to his apartment from walking the family dog, and was the first to report the incident to the authorities, “I looked into the room — Alexander and his wife were sleeping.”
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Vladimirovich told media outlet Pravda, “I came closer and then realized that my son was no longer breathing. There were fractures of the fingers after the last fights, but this is nothing. We all eat the same food, we live together.” It is claimed Pisarev died in the hospital while his wife survived.
Moscow Region Investigative Committee said that an autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death of the 33-year-old star, “In Balashikha, an investigation was organized into the death of an athlete as a result of poisoning. Investigators, with the participation of a forensic specialist, are conducting an additional inspection of the scene, confiscating items relevant to the investigation, and planning a forensic chemical examination.”
Pisarev held the title as Moscow champion in hand-to-hand combat and grappling. He had been to the final of the MMA European Championships and participated under banners such as Absolute Championship Berkut, M1-Global, and Fight Nights Global. In his most recent match, he was defeated by Maxim Usoyan in February 2020.
His Tomahawk team released an official statement on his death saying, “My brother, my friend, my student! Words cannot express the extent of the loss. Alexander Pisarev is the standard of friendship, decency and courage of a Russian person. I and we will miss you!!! Rest in peace our brother,” reported the Daily Mail.
As per experts, watermelons' outer skin may become poisonous sometimes since they are grown close to the ground, however, they naturally do not contain such bacteria which can make one sick. They also suggested that the other causes could be handling, storing, and transporting of the fruit during the time of harvest, as per the report.