Heart Attack Grill Mascot 'Patient John' Alleman Dies of a Heart Attack
John Alleman died as he lived.
For the last year and a half, Alleman served as the unofficial spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill — the infamous hospital-themed Las Vegas eatery that holds the world record for "most calorific burger."
Last week, Alleman, 54, suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, where he remained on life support until he passed away this morning.
According to restaurant owner "Doctor Jon" Basso, Alleman would visit the Heart Attack Grill on a daily basis, and often stood outside for hours trying to convince others to enter.
"I told him if you keep eating like this, it's going to kill ya," Basso told the Las Vegas Sun. "He'd say, 'I just love your place, Jon.' He's the only person I know who was probably at the restaurant more than I."
"Patient John" would in time become the restaurant's mascot, with his caricature on the Grill's menu, and his own clothing line for sale through the restaurant's website.
"John was a fun spirited man who valued laughter above all else," the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page. "He was loved deeply and will be missed."
Alleman is the second Heart Attack Grill spokesman to perish in as many years.
29-year-old Blair River passed away in March of 2011. His cause of death was never officially reported, but Basso said then that River succumbed to flu-related pneumonia.
