A Russian finalist of a Finnish sauna endurance contest died after withstanding temperatures above 100 degrees Centigrade for six minutes, Finland's Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported.
Judges ended the competition in the Finnish city of Heinola on Saturday after both finalists - Russia's Vladimir Ladyzhensky and Finland's Timo Kaukonen - fainted.
"The judges watched the event through a window. The contest was suspended when it was discovered that [the participants'] health was in danger," the paper quoted Ossi Arvela, the director of the contest, as saying.
Kaukonen, the event's five-time winner, was taken to a hospital in Lahti, apparently suffering from severe burns.
Police had launched an investigation into the fatal incident, but organizers insist that all rules were observed and all contestants had undergone medical checks before the event.
No incidents were reported during women's competition, held earlier in the day.
Heinola has hosted the event since 1999. According to the competition's rules, finalists should withstand 110 degrees centigrade for as long as possible.
MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti)
