Büşra Kaya / İzmit, June 18 () - Friends pretending to beat up the groom just before the first private moments with his newlywed wife is a curious tradition in many parts of Turkey - but it rarely ends in a visit to the hospital.

However, Mehmet Şener, a 24-year-old groom, collapsed shortly after getting a beating from his wedding guests in the village of Muallimköy in the northwestern Turkish province of İzmit.

In line with the tradition, Şener first served baklava to around 10 of his friends, who had knocked on the door of the newlywed couple. While eating the Turkish dessert, his friends then pulled Şener out of the house and started to beat him.

After sustaining injuries inflicted by his friends to his head, chest and back, Şener was reportedly hospitalized for two hours.

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