The strange story started when Gail and Don Patterson stopped at their daughter-in-law Erin Patterson's house in Leongatha, which is two hours south of Melbourne, for lunch with their grandchildren.
They were accompanied by the Wilkinsons, consisting of Heather (Gail's sister) and Ian. They were all residents of the neighboring village of Korumburra, where Ian served as the pastor of the Baptist congregation.
All four of the visitors were taken to the nearby hospital hours after the meal with what they initially thought to be acute gastritis. They were moved to a hospital in Melbourne to get the best medical care the state had to offer after it became evident very soon that it was something much worse.
Despite this, Heather, 66, Gail, 70, and Don, 70, passed away on Friday and Saturday, respectively. In need of a liver transplant, 68-year-old Ian is still in a severe state in the hospital, according to BBC News.
Death Cap Mushrooms?
Police claim they think the four consumed death cap mushrooms, which are extremely deadly if consumed. Strangely enough, Erin and her two kids are all right.
According to police, each child ate a different dinner. Both children have subsequently been placed in state custody as a "precaution."
According to investigators, it is unclear whether Erin consumed the same food as her guests or even if the mushrooms were present in the dish she served.
They also mentioned her separation from her husband, the Pattersons' son, but only referred to it as an "amicable" breakup.
Not a First
The state of Victoria has had poisonings from mushrooms before, and as foraging grows in popularity, death caps are more frequently mistaken for edible fungi.
They are widespread and can be found in cool, humid areas. Compared to many other hazardous species, they have a far more benign appearance.
A coin-sized piece of the deadly fungus, which is to blame for 90% of all lethal mushroom poisoning worldwide, can kill an adult if consumed.
A wave of poisonings in Victoria in 2020 led to the hospitalization of eight people, one of whom passed away. Authorities have once more encouraged people not to eat any foraged wild mushrooms.
The Dangers of Consuming Wild Mushrooms
Consuming wild mushrooms can be dangerous, even deadly. There are over 10,000 species of mushrooms in the world, and only a small percentage of them are edible.
Many wild mushrooms look similar to edible mushrooms, but they can be poisonous. Even experts can make mistakes when identifying mushrooms, so it is not safe to eat wild mushrooms unless you are 100 percent sure that they are edible.
The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can vary depending on the type of mushroom ingested. Some mushrooms can cause immediate nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Others can cause delayed symptoms, such as liver damage, kidney failure, and death. In some cases, mushroom poisoning can be fatal even with treatment.
Related article: Rare Fungus Kills Wisconsin Woman; How Dangerous Is It?
