The sole survivor of a mushroom poisoning has been released from the hospital weeks after three others died.
Ian Wilkinson, 68, was allegedly poisoned by Erin Patterson on July 29 and had been in a coma ever since.
The alleged poisoning took place in Leongatha, Australia, where Patterson had cooked lunch for her family members containing mushrooms.
Wilkinson was one of four guests at the lunch, with Patterson’s former in-laws and a relative joining.
All four guests became violently ill after eating the meal, with three of Patterson’s family members passing away. Wilkinson was hospitalized in critical condition and received a liver transplant.
His family confirmed on Saturday that he is making “significant progress” at home after being discharged from Melbourne’s Austin Hospital over 50 days after the tragedy.
Wilkinson’s family said: “This milestone marks a moment of immense relief and gratitude for Ian and the entire Wilkinson family.
“The Wilkinson family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Leongatha, Dandenong, and Austin Hospitals for their unwavering dedication and exceptional care that played a pivotal role in Ian’s recovery.”
The family also thanked their church and other loved ones in their community.
They said: “This collective kindness has been a pillar of strength for Ian and the family, reinforcing the sense of unity and compassion that defines our community.”
Police launched an investigation into the other deaths, which were allegedly a result of a beef wellington made with poisonous death cap mushrooms.
Patterson wrote a statement to investigators, which was obtained by ABC.
In the statement, she revealed she was hospitalized after the lunch with bad stomach pains and diarrhea, and she was given a “liver protective drug.”
Patterson said she served the meal to her guests and allowed them to choose their own plates – she also ate a portion of the meal herself.
She claimed the mushrooms were a mixture of button mushrooms from a major supermarket and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne she bought months before.
The mother-of-two denied murdering her guests, saying she had “no reason” to hurt them.
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