Malouff dies in Denver

DENVER — Thornton resident Travis Malouff, 42, formerly from Alamosa, died as a result of a tragic accident in Denver early Sunday morning.

Malouff began choking in the lobby of Voodoo Doughnut on East Colfax Avenue early Sunday morning according to 9NEWS. Police and paramedics were first called to the doughnut shop in the 1500 block of Colfax at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report Malouff was choking.

Witnesses said Malouff was doing a doughnut challenge before he died, according to the 9NEWS report. The challenge is to eat a half-pound doughnut in 80 seconds or less.

Two people who were inside at the time said people rushed to help Malouff when they realized he was choking, but they couldn’t perform the lifesaving Heimlich maneuver.

The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner announced Monday morning that Malouff died from “asphyxia, due to obstruction of the airway.”

Voodoo released a statement saying the company is saddened by what happened and is cooperating with police.

Travis is the son of Alamosa residents Curtis and Kay Malouff and has a brother Ferris. Services are pending through Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa.