Man falls ill eating Heart Attack Grill burger

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Laughing tourists were either cynical or confused about whether a man really was suffering a medical episode amid the “doctor,” ”nurses” and health warnings at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, a restaurant owner said Wednesday.

“It was no joke,” said Jon Basso, who promotes himself “Doctor Jon,” his scantily-clad waitresses as nurses and customers as patients.

Mr. Basso said he could tell right away the man in his 40s eating a Triple Bypass burger was having trouble. He was sweating, shaking and could barely talk.

Paramedics were called Saturday night, fire spokesman Tim Szymanski said, and the man was hospitalized. His name and information about his condition weren’t made public.

Giggles can be heard on the soundtrack of amateur video showing the man on a stretcher being wheeled out of the restaurant where patrons pass an antique ambulance at the door and the sign “Caution! This establishment is bad for your health.”

Eaters are given surgical gowns as they choose from a calorically extravagant menu offering “bypass” burgers, “flatliner” fries, “butterfat” shakes and free meals to folks over 350 pounds.

Mr. Basso said he hopes the man is OK, and added that he felt bad for him because tourists treated his misfortune as a joke.

“We would never pull a stunt like that,” he said.

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