SYDNEY: An Australian man who unwittingly ate the same dish containing deadly mushrooms that killed three other diners has been released from hospital, his family said.

Nearly two months after eating a beef Wellington dish, which police believe contained “death cap” mushrooms, during a family lunch, Ian Wilkinson left the hospital, relatives said in a statement.

Each lethal mushroom contains enough poison to kill a healthy adult, experts say.

Despite having fallen gravely ill after eating the contaminated meal, Wilkinson has made “significant progress in his recovery”, his family said.

“This milestone marks a moment of immense relief and gratitude for Ian and the entire Wilkinson family.” Other diners — Wilkinson’s wife Heather, as well as married couple Don and Gail Patterson — all died after also experiencing food poisoning symptoms.

The lethal mushroom mystery gripped Australia after Erin Patterson cooked and served the beef Wellington for her estranged parents-in-law, Don and Gail, as well as the Wilkinson couple, on July 29.

Erin Patterson has been named as a suspect because she appeared to remain in good health despite her four guests falling gravely ill.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2023