Canberrans in hospital after allegedly buying death cap mushrooms from Woolworths

 

 

 

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberrans-in-hospital-after-allegedly-buying-death-cap-mushrooms-from-woolworths-20140426-37atq.html

 

 

ACT Health has advised people displaying symptoms of stomach aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and who purchased and ate mushrooms from Woolworths in Dickson on or around the same date to seek immediate medical attention.

 

I really don't see how this could happen.

I know a few people I would mind feeding these to.

Going for compo!

Yowza.

Lots of restaurants around that area.

If all 3 victims were from different households then I would be more impressed.

Yeah.

Sounds suss to me.

I wonder if the victims wear tie die, have muddy shoes, and love incense.

Could be some sort of compensation scam. AFAIK supermarkets only sell the farmed variety of fresh mushrooms

We used to get some pretty awesome mushrooms back in the day, a little nausea was ok as they were good times and made the music sound much better than it should.

apparently two of the victims are experiencing hallucinations that cause them to think they are horses whilst the third was found grazing in the hospital grounds

 

all three were given tranquilizers and are now in a stable condition

If all 3 victims were from different households then I would be more impressed.

Fair call.

I read the article. It seems pretty suss.

They probably picked them themselves and wanted someone to blame.................and maybe get a payout.

apparently two of the victims are experiencing hallucinations that cause them to think they are horses whilst the third was found grazing in the hospital grounds

 

all three were given tranquilizers and are now in a stable condition

Nah, they just had sore throats. They all thought they were a little ho(a)rse...

 

Ithangyou

Edited April 26, 201411 yr by audiohobbs

apparently two of the victims are experiencing hallucinations that cause them to think they are horses whilst the third was found grazing in the hospital grounds

 

all three were given tranquilizers and are now in a stable condition

Let's hope that they don't end up handicapped.

Be careful out there Canberrean's.

 

I quick google search shows Canberra is in wild mushroom season and while the Botanical Gardens are reputed to be a well known and abundant source of Psilocybe subaeruginosa (photo below posted 19th April from Canberra) :

 

 

 

But they are easily mistaken for Galerina:

 

 

Effects of poisonous mushrooms

The three main effects of poisonous mushrooms are:

• Hallucinations – some mushroom species contain toxins that cause hallucinations. These psychotropic types are commonly referred to as ‘magic mushrooms’. One of the better known species is the Golden Top (Psilocybe subaeruginosa). Apart from hallucinations, other effects include confusion, muscle weakness, agitation, rapid heart rate and headache. Unfortunately for some trip-seekers, the Golden Top looks very similar to some varieties of Galerina mushroom, which are potentially deadly.
• Gastrointestinal illness – many poisonous mushrooms cause gastrointestinal illness, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
• Liver failure and death – about nine out of 10 fungi-related deaths are attributable to the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides). Symptoms occur 6 to 24 hours after eating and include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. The toxin can fatally harm the liver and kidneys, and death can occur within 48 hours. Other mushrooms that have a similar effect to the Death Cap include some species of Galerina, Lepiota and Conocybe.

 

Galerina have the same deadly toxin as he Death Cap "A 2004 study determined that the amatoxin content of G. marginata varied from 78.17 to 243.61 Âµg/g of fresh weight. In this study, the amanitin amounts from certain Galerina specimens were higher than those from some Amanita phalloides,"

 

Now i realise why so many folk in Canberra die from eating mushrooms. If your lucky and just get sick it might be best to tell the hospital staff you ate Death Cap  mushies from Woollies to avoid possible police scrutiny....

Edited April 26, 201411 yr by Nada

We used to get some pretty awesome mushrooms back in the day, a little nausea was ok as they were good times and made the music sound much better than it should.

Probably needed for ML-1s. Bam!

Probably needed for ML-1s. Bam!

 

Are you experienced? Well that explains a few things about your reviews.

I believe there is a mushroom in Italy, they call 'The Destroyer'. Apparently, it slowly dissolves the liver over a 24 hour period and the victim dies in excruciating agony.

I believe there is a mushroom in Italy, they call 'The Destroyer'. Apparently, it slowly dissolves the liver over a 24 hour period and the victim dies in excruciating agony.

 

You would be meaning this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroying_angel

 

Not nice at all.

 

The destroying angel (Amanita bisporigera) and the death cap (Amanita phalloides) are responsible for the overwhelming majority of deaths due to mushroom poisoning. The toxin responsible for this is amatoxin. Symptoms do not appear for 5 to 24 hours, when the toxins may already be absorbed and the damage (destruction of liver and kidney tissues) irreversible. As little as half a mushroom cap can be fatal

See here:

 

http://the-riotact.com/three-hospitalised-with-suspected-death-cap-mushroom-poisoning/124969

This is the Death Cap. Its found in Canberra under oak trees. 

 

Its real name is   Amanita phalloides

 

Easy to see where it derives its name from, but who would want to eat it?

 

 

Now this is trickier to avoid for those with brains of mush from self-inflicted psiloocybin poisoning

 

 

Not all gold topped mushrooms are "Gold Tops".  This is the Australian  Amanita xanthocephala - another hepatotoxic Amanita.