A corporate holiday party guest was rushed to a hospital in critical condition after he drank a cocktail made with liquid nitrogen during an on-site show by a “celebrity chef,” according to witnesses and event staff. The man collapsed minutes after finishing the drink at a cooking studio where the firm held its year-end celebration.
The incident occurred at the Igra Stolov, or “Game of Tables,” culinary studio inside a mixed-use complex that hosts private events. Attendees said a hired chef staged a dramatic cryogenic presentation in which mist rolled from glasses as he chilled alcohol with liquid nitrogen. Several guests recorded the performance on phones while others lined up for samples. Soon after one participant drank his portion, he clutched his abdomen and fell to the floor. Paramedics transported him to a Moscow emergency hospital for surgery. Police took statements and collected equipment from the demonstration area while health inspectors began a review of how the liquid nitrogen was handled. The venue suspended service for the night and notified the party’s organizers that investigators would follow up with formal requests for records and staff rosters.
Attendees identified the injured man only by his first name, Sergey, describing him as a thirty-something colleague who worked in a technical role at the company. Witnesses said the chef urged guests to drink quickly to capture the visual effect. Several recalled no warning signs posted at the bar and no verbal safety briefing before the pour. A physician who responded with the ambulance crew told colleagues the man showed signs of a sudden abdominal injury consistent with gas expansion. Surgeons operated to relieve internal pressure and repair ruptured tissue, according to people briefed on the case. Police have not released the chef’s name or confirmed the company that booked the event. Officials did not immediately say whether the liquid nitrogen supply was food-grade or where it was sourced.
Liquid nitrogen is used in professional kitchens to flash-freeze ingredients and to create vapor effects when it boils at room temperature. Experts warn it must fully evaporate from food or drink before consumption because even a small remaining volume can expand rapidly to gas inside the stomach and cause catastrophic injuries. Past cases include a British teenager who required emergency removal of her stomach after consuming a liquid nitrogen shot at a bar in 2012, and a subsequent court fine against the venue several years later. Medical literature documents similar perforations that required major surgery. In Moscow, chefs and bartenders typically work under local sanitary rules for handling cryogenic materials, but enforcement often relies on operator training and event oversight rather than a permit specific to liquid nitrogen use.
Investigators are reviewing video recorded by guests and the venue’s cameras, interviewing staff who handled the dewar and transfer vessels, and checking whether a risk assessment was completed before the show. Health officials said they will examine gloves, tongs, siphons, and any straws or glassware used, and will test residues where feasible. Authorities are also attempting to determine who was legally responsible for safety at the bar setup, including whether the chef worked as an independent contractor or under the studio’s supervision. The event organizer has been asked to provide the contract, staffing list, and a timeline that shows when the nitrogen was dispensed and who served each portion. No arrests have been announced. Officials said any licensing violations, if found, would be referred for administrative penalties or criminal charges depending on the severity.
Guests described a festive atmosphere before the emergency, with music playing and lights low as fog cascaded from pitchers on the counter. After the man collapsed, the room fell silent while coworkers cleared space for first responders. One attendee said staff brought warm towels and asked everyone to step back while they moved tables for a stretcher. Another guest said the injured man had been smiling moments earlier as he filmed the effect on his phone. A venue employee, who declined to be named, said the studio had hosted demonstrations with smoke effects in the past but had not seen a medical crisis of this kind at a private party.
Hospital officials said the patient remained in serious but stable condition after surgery, and that further procedures may be needed depending on how his digestive tract heals. Health inspectors plan to brief reporters once they complete the initial site assessment and interviews. Police expect to submit their first report next week with any recommended charges or fines. The venue said it will cooperate with authorities and review internal training. The corporate client has postponed remaining year-end gatherings while colleagues check on the man’s recovery.