Ian Wilkinson, who was one of four people who became severely ill after eating poisonous mushrooms during a family lunch, has become the sole survivor after being discharged from hospital.
Ian, 68, along with his wife Heather, 66, her sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, were rushed to hospital after eating lunch at the home of Erin Patterson on July 29.
Erin, who was Gail and Don's daughter-in-law, had invited the family of her estranged husband Simon to her home in Leongatha, Gippsland, in Australia, for lunch, though Simon had not attended, where it is believed they ingested poisonous death cap mushrooms.
Tragically, Heather, Gail, and Don all died in hospital days later, while Ian had been receiving treatment for over seven weeks, until he was finally released this weekend.
Family members released a statement on Saturday confirming Ian had been discharged from Melbourne's Austin Hospital on Friday, sharing their gratitude that he had survived.
They said in a statement: "This milestone marks a moment of immense relief and gratitude for Ian and the entire Wilkinson family," and thanked medical teams at the Leongatha, Dandenong, and Austin hospitals for "unwavering dedication and exceptional care".
The family added: "The medical team’s expertise and compassion have been a source of comfort and hope throughout this journey."
Victoria Police had said they believe the group had eaten death cap mushrooms, stating that Erin is a suspect because she cooked the meal.
Erin had strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and said that she can not explain how the meal she cooked caused the group to become ill and for three of them to die.
Erin claimed in a statement that the mushrooms in question were a combination of some button mushrooms bought from a supermarket and some dried mushrooms purchased from an Asian grocery store three months prior to the meal.
In a written statement sent to Victoria Police obtained by ABC News, Erin added: "I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones.
"I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgment.
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved," she added.
She had earlier admitted that she had initially lied to police after they found a food dehydrator at a local tip, after initially claiming she had thrown it out "a long time ago".
Erin told police she had been discussing the food dehydrator with her children at the hospital when her estranged husband said: "Is that what you used to poison them?", leading her to throw it out.
She also spoke of her respect for Simon's family, adding: "I had a deep love and respect for Simon’s parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models."
Poisoning symptoms after ingesting death cap mushrooms often begin with "violent" vomiting and diarrhea, as well as low blood pressure around eight to 12 hours after it enters the system. Patients tend to feel better after around 24 hours, which lasts for up to 72 hours before symptoms of liver and kidney failure kick in around three to six days after ingesting the poison.
Death cap mushrooms, which grow around Victoria, can be extremely deadly, and urgent medical attention must be sought if a person believes they may have come into contact with it, as it is responsible for around 90 percent of mushroom poisoning deaths.
Erin, who claims to be an "experienced forager," said she had also eaten a portion of the meal, and was later also hospitalized with severe stomach pains and diarrhea, requiring treatment with a "liver protective drug."
Ian's family's statement added that they were "profoundly grateful for the outpouring of support, prayers and well-wishes from the Korumburra community, church, friends, family and colleagues.
“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."
