Doctors believe three members of the same family who are in a ‘vegetative state’ after eating contaminated wild boar may have contracted botulism.
The family from Putaruru, on New Zealand’s North Island are in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital after eating the animal they shot on a hunting trip.
Paramedics found Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, and his mother Alekutty Daniel, 62, lying unconscious in their home on Friday night after Mr Kochummen fainted while calling an ambulance.
Paramedics found Shibu Kochummen (centre), his wife Subi Babu (left) and his mother Alekutty Daniel (right) lying unconscious in their home on Friday
Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, are responding to botulism anti-toxin in hospital
A spokeswoman from Waikato Hospital told the NZ Herald the family are recovering.
‘While we don’t know the exact cause and source of this illness, we now believe it is botulism,’ she said.
‘The three patients are responding to botulism anti-toxin and are recovering in hospital.
‘We have sent samples off to a specialist centre in Queensland for testing but it may take several weeks before we get the results. We have no evidence to believe there is any public health issue.’
The family, who moved from Kerala in India to New Zealand five years ago, have two children aged seven and one.
The children were not fed the contaminated meat, as they were already in bed.
Friend and member of local church group Hamilton Marthoma Church Joji Varghese said it was initially believed the family were poisoned after eating a wild boar they had caught on a hunting trip.
The family, who moved from Kerala in India to New Zealand five years ago, have two children aged seven (pictured) and one
Mr Varghese told Daily Mail Australia that within 30 minutes of eating the meat the family started vomiting.
‘Shibu’s mother started vomiting and then collapsed. Shibu called an ambulance but fainted half way through the call.
‘When paramedics arrived they found three people collapsed on the floor and two children in bed sleeping.’
Three members of the same family have been left in a ‘vegetative state’ and may be paralysed for life after eating contaminated wild boar they shot on a hunting trip (stock image)
‘It was just something they had decided to have for dinner… they put the kids to bed before they cooked the meat,’ Mr Varghese said.
Mr Varghese said Mr Kochummen was a ‘keen outdoorsman’ who went hunting with friends about once a month.
He went hunting with a group of friends locally in Putaruru on Friday when they caught the boar.
He said it wasn’t the first time the family had eaten wild boar.
‘We’ve shared boar on a number of occasions,’ Mr Varghese said.
The family’s young children are being looked after by the church group.
The family from Putaruru, on New Zealand’s North Island are in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital