PMB man conquers chilli bites

CHRIS Morton is officially the hottest man in the province after proving that he definitely can take the heat by conquering capsicums with courage.

- WENDY JASSON DA COSTA

Last week the 48-year-old fire-eater from Pietermaritzburg left a trail of scorched tongues in his wake, surviving 14 jaw-dropping rounds of the Chilli Pod Eating Contest at the Great East Coast Chilli Festival.

When the flames settled Morton was crowned the 2025 Chilli Pod Eating Champion and his name will be emblazoned on the coveted championship belt.

“You've got to bea bit strange, you’ve got to be a bit crazy to do this,” he told the Independent on Saturday this week.

By no means a chilli rookie, he has taken on some of the country’s most fiery chilli competitions.

“This is my fifth time entering and my second win,” he said.

“I’ve been competing since 2021, at different venues and under different organisers. I missed 2024 because I was overseas, but I came back ready.”

Organisers say that as sweat, tears and noses ran uncontrollably, paramedics were on standby to douse any chilli-induced flames.