LIVED BY FASTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 11

LIVED BY FASTING

PROFESSIONAL FASTER’S DEATH

OVERSTEPPED MARK

The sufferings from indigestion and other disorders of Ricardo Sacco, the fasting man, -who died recently, were described at the inquest at Blackpool, England. His death followed an illness after a 65-days fast in a Blackpool amusement arcade. Mrs. Sarah Gifford, his mother-in-law, said that he was 48 years and that his real name was Richard Hans Jone. He was a baker and had not been in the best of health for some years. Dr. C. Ward, of Blackpool, said that he attended Sacco on June 26 to see if he were fit to fast on June 29. He had an enlarged liver and was not fit to fast. He was also suffering from indigestion and was unable to retain food. He (the doctor) advised him not to fast.

Sacco then went to Manchester for advice. When he (Dr. Ward) saw him next, on September 15, he was very weak. Medicine and milk and water diet were prescribed. He developed dropsy about ten days before his death.

He also suffered from cirrhosis of the liver. He died from cardiac failure, dropsy and cirrhosis of the liver. It was quite possible that fasts tended to bring about Sacco’s condition.

Nurse Ethel Barlow, who was called to Sacco at Blackpool after his fast, was asked by Mr. H. Parker, the coroner, if she had formed any opinion on the sanitary conditions under which Sacco fasted in the large glass case.

Nurse Barlow: It was dirty and smelt very bad. In the Amusement Arcade were monkeys and funny cats. Sacco's glass was surrounded by them.

Sacco himself was disgusted at his surroundings. He said he was ready to give up previously, but he wanted to beat a man named Clarke.

Mr. Parker said it was clear that Sacco was out to make money in what most people would regard as a most revolting way. He continued: "If the authorities had power to do so they ought to have intervened on the grounds of hygiene and sanitation. Sacco’s fasting was equal to undertaking some task 100 much for his body. He overstepped the mark and his death was due to misadventure.” A verdict was returned accordingly.