Danish man, 69, dies after drinking coconut left open at room temperature for a month

A 69-year-old Danish man died after consuming a coconut left out in the open for a month.

The news resurfaced after Singaporean influencer Samuel Choudhury, who is also a general practitioner in family medicine, posted a social media video on Apr. 1, 2025, detailing what happened.

Choudhury warned viewers to store their coconuts properly, especially those that come partially peeled with the straws attached.

What happened

According to a 2021 medical report, the Danish man had left a pre-shaved coconut on his kitchen table for over a month before deciding to consume it.

He had only drunk a small amount of coconut water before realising it had turned bad, where his wife later said he described the coconut's interior as slimy and appeared rotten.

Three hours later, the man began sweating and vomitting, and was found with pale and clammy skin.

He was also described to be in a state of confusion and had trouble balancing, though he was able to answer questions with some delay.

His wife called for medical help, and the man was sent to a hospital in Denmark in a state of reduced consciousness, CNBC reported.

According to an autopsy, bleeding in the brain was determined as the cause of the man's death, caused by a fungus in the coconut, which can cause severe encephalopathy.

Encephalopathy is any disease that alters one's brain function.

In his video, Choudhury warned viewers that food poisoning can be deadly and food should be stored in the fridge once opened.

Once opened, coconuts are supposed to be refrigerated at a temperature of 4°C to 5°C.

However, unopened coconuts can be kept at room temperature and last a few months.

Top image via Reddit and Canva.