Three people die and one in hospital after eating poisonous mushrooms for lunch

07 August 2023 , 06:29

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Heather Wilkinson has been named one of the victims and her husband Ian is in hospital (Image: SalvosMuseums/Facebook)

Three grandparents have died after eating poisonous mushrooms for lunch.

Heather Wilkinson, 66, her sister Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's husband Don, also 70, fell ill last week. They have all died since, while Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, a pastor, is in the hospital in a critical condition.

Police in Leongatha, Australia, launched a probe to determine whether the case is suspicious. The tragedy left the pensioners' families heartbroken.

The families told The South Gippsland Sentinel-Times: "The past week has been a time of shock and grief for us all. They were parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and pillars of faith within our community."

Nathan Hersey, the mayor of South Gippsland, described the situation as "shocking". He told 9News: "All the people who are involved are very well known in our community, which is a tight-knit community, and very well-respected and loved."

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A Victoria Police spokeswoman has said: "At this time the exact circumstances are still being established and it is not known if the matter is suspicious."

Officers have combed the home for clues as part of their probe.

They quizzed a 48-year-old woman, before she was released as police investigations remain ongoing. Health officials have launched a probe and are cooperating alongside the cops.

Officials have warned about two types of poisonous mushrooms that grow in Victoria during the cooler months. It’s not known what type of mushroom the four people ate. Symptoms of wild mushroom poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, and dizziness.

Bradley Jolly