Eating exotic menu can be dangerous, and this is what exactly happened to a family of three from Banyuwangi, East Java.
The family suffered from vomiting, headaches, and shortness of breath after eating pufferfish – and died not long after.
It all started when the 65-year-old Muhlis Hartono catches the pufferfish and bring it home.
Most probably unaware that pufferfish is a poisonous and deadly fish, Hartono’s wife, 50-year-old Dewi Ambarwati cooked the fish.
In Japan, this fish can be savored only after being prepared by a professional with a special license specifically to prepare the pufferfish.
Hartono and Ambarwati later enjoyed the pufferfish dish with Ambarwati’s mother, the 80-year-old Siti Habsah.
After vomited and experienced headaches, all of them were rushed to a nearby hospital but didn’t make it. It was later confirmed that they died of poisoning. Authorities are currently conducting chemical tests to determine the content of the pufferfish dish as well.
Pufferfish is a poisonous and deadly fish because it contains tetrodotoxin – a highly toxic substance. Only 25 milligrams of tetrodotoxin is enough to kill humans in a matter of hours.
The family died after eating the poisonous pufferfish.
According to the Chief Police of Banyuwangi, Kombes, Arman Asmara Syarifuddin, Hartono and Ambarwati left behind a young child, who is now in the custody of the couple’s relatives.
Always be careful when you’re trying a new exotic dish and be sure to do enough research not to harm yourself in the process.
