Gippsland home searched after third death from poison mushroom meal
By Ashleigh McMillan and Marta Pascual Juanola
Homicide squad detectives are investigating the deaths of three people who ate poisonous wild mushrooms in Victoria’s south-east, as a fourth person fights for life in hospital.
Korumburra pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife, Heather, along with her sister and brother-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, became ill after eating a meal at a home in the nearby town of Leongatha on July 29, police said.
Left to right: Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died after ingesting death cap mushrooms. Ian Wilkinson remains in a critical condition at a Melbourne hospital.
The four were taken to hospital the following day after their condition continued to deteriorate.
Ms Wilkinson, 66, and Ms Patterson, 70, both died in hospital on Friday, while Mr Patterson, 70, died on Saturday night. Mr Wilkinson, 68, was in a critical condition at The Alfred hospital on Sunday evening.
Homicide squad detectives interviewed a 48-year-old Leongatha woman who was released pending further inquiries. Investigators also searched a Leongatha home on Saturday.
“The investigation surrounding the exact circumstances of the incident remains ongoing and police are liaising with the Department of Health in relation to the matter,” a police spokeswoman said.
In a statement to local newspaper the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times, the Wilkinson and Patterson families said: “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.
“Their love, steadfast faith, and selfless service have left an indelible mark on our families, the Korumburra Baptist Church, the local community, and indeed, people around the globe.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our wider communities for their outpouring of love, support, and prayers.”
The families also thanked hospital staff for their compassion, expertise and care.
South Gippsland Shire Mayor Nathan Hersey said the Korumburra couples were well-respected in the local community and had connections to the local Baptist Church.
“The council is aware [of the poisoning] and has reached out to the family, but at this stage, they’ve said they’re well-supported, being well-cared for and have asked for privacy,” he said.
“It’s a massive loss to our community and a huge tragedy – these are people who are integral to our small community.”
Two small bouquets had been placed on the front step of the Wilkinsons’ home on Sunday afternoon alongside a handwritten note of condolences.
Bouquets left at the doorstep of the Korumburra home of mushroom poisoning victims Ian and Heather Wilkinson. Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola
Locals in the small country town expressed disbelief at the poisonings and said they were devastated. They described the couples as well-liked and respected community members who would go out of their way to help neighbours and friends. Some struggled to hold back tears as they spoke.
“This sort of thing doesn’t happen in this town,” said a shop owner who did not want to provide their name out of respect for the victims’ families. “It’s devastating.”
On Sunday morning, mourners flocked to the Korumburra Baptist Church, a small weatherboard church in the heart of town where Mr Wilkinson was the pastor, for a service and candlelit prayer in honour of both families.
Reverend Daniel Bullock, director of mission and ministries at Baptist Union of Victoria, said the community would be impacted deeply by the loss.
“As a union of over 250 churches and communities of faith, we are devastated by this tragic event and the loss of 3 people who were all active members of this vibrant Baptist church and had been significant contributors to the surrounding community,” Bullock said.
“We continue to pray fervently for the fourth person who is still in hospital.”
An advisory in April from then-chief health officer Brett Sutton noted two varieties of poisonous mushrooms – the death cap and yellow-staining mushrooms – grow in Victoria during wetter and cooler months.
“Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness,” Sutton said in the statement.
It is still unclear what type of mushroom the group ate.
The death cap is responsible for 90 per cent of mushroom poisoning deaths. One bite is enough to kill someone, causing severe gastroenteritis and eventually organ failure. Anyone who becomes ill after eating a wild mushroom is urged to seek urgent medical care and, if possible, take samples for identification.
Other symptoms of wild-mushroom poisoning can include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.
Mycologist Teresa Lebel told Nine News a piece of toxic mushroom “the size of a 20¢ coin is sufficient to kill a person”.
“Don’t go out and collect mushrooms to eat in the wild. It’s just not worth the Russian roulette you’re playing with yourself and potentially others.”
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