Man Dies At South Dakota Hot Dog Eating Contest

A Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in western South Dakota turned tragic when a contestant choked to death.

Walter Eagle Tail, 47, of Custer, died at a hospital Thursday after attempts to save him at the scene failed.

Speed-eating competitions are popular over the Fourth of July weekend. Eight-time champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut managed to eat 61 hot dogs in 10 minutes at an annual contest in Coney Island, New York, on Friday - eight short of the record 69 he swallowed in the 2013 competition.

Here & Now's Robin Young speaks with Kate Najacht, a reporter for the Custer County Chronicle, about the incident.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.