A man and his daughter passed away following the consumption of a Thai curry containing wild mushrooms given to them as a gift by a family acquaintance.
Boonpan, aged 78, and his daughter Wijitra, aged 40, fell critically ill at their residence in Chiang Rai, a city in northern Thailand, on August 22. Soon after ingesting the poisonous curry, Boonpan collapsed, experiencing convulsions and foaming at the mouth, leaving his family in shock. Concerned that the curry was the cause, relatives hurried to Wijitra’s locked bedroom, finding her unconscious. Despite being rushed to the hospital, both individuals were pronounced dead shortly after.
Wijitra’s elder sister, Thatsanee, aged 49, disclosed that the rest of the family had also been about to eat the same curry before witnessing the tragic events unfold.
Expressing her devastation, Thatsanee shared, “My sister had never cooked with this kind of mushroom before as she typically did not enjoy mushrooms. A friend gifted her some, prompting her to request our mother to prepare a curry with them and even distribute some to relatives who had not yet cooked theirs.”
She further stated, “Although I used to love mushrooms, after this incident, I will never consume them again. It’s challenging to distinguish between toxic and safe varieties.”
Police Captain Boonchuay Kanthawong from Mae Chan Police Station reported, “An initial examination did not reveal any signs of external injuries from an attack. Earlier, Mr. Boonpan, the deceased father who exhibited similar symptoms, was transferred to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital for medical care. Unfortunately, the hospital later notified his relatives about his untimely demise.”
The mushrooms have been forwarded to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital for analysis.
Recently, Thai health authorities issued a critical warning regarding wild mushrooms, cautioning the public about the increased presence of lethal poisonous species due to the rainy season.
This alert follows closely after an incident where Australian Erin Patterson was found guilty of causing the deaths of three individuals by serving them a beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms.
