John Alleman, 52, collapsed at bus stop outside restaurant that sells burgers, fries and drinks with huge calorie counts

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

The mascot for the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas has died of a heart attack. He was the second unpaid mascot to die in the past two years.

John Alleman, 52, collapsed while waiting at a bus stop in front of the diner last week. He was taken off life support on Monday, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

The diner is famous for its huge hamburgers, extra-fat milkshakes and fries cooked in lard. It uses the tagline: "Taste worth dying for."

Its owner, Jon Basso, told the Sun that Alleman came to the restaurant daily and encouraged passing tourists to try its calorie-laden offerings.

"He never missed a day, even on Christmas," Basso said. "People just loved him. He connected with people in a real way."

Alleman became an unofficial mascot for the restaurant, which features waitresses in nurse garb. His caricature as "Patient John" graced its merchandise and menus.

In 2011 another unofficial spokesman, a 260kg (575lb) man named Blair River, died at age 29 from what was said to have been pneumonia.

In 2012 a man in his 40s was hospitalised after he began sweating and shaking while eating a 6,000-calorie Triple Bypass burger at the restaurant.

The diner features tongue-in-cheek health warnings and casts customers as patients. Customers are given surgical gowns as they choose from a the high-calorie menu.

Basso said Alleman weighed about 82kg (180lb) at his death.