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Roger Wilco
Rusted Identifier

Registered: 06/08/13
Posts: 970
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3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom
#23732776 - 10/12/16 10:58 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom
Boy was foraging for wild mushrooms with his family last week in downtown Victoria, say officials
A three-year old boy from Victoria has died after eating a poisonous "death cap" mushroom picked in the city, a health official said Wednesday.
The boy was foraging for wild mushrooms with his family last week at an undisclosed location in downtown Victoria, said Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Island Health.
He was treated in Victoria, then airlifted to Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, where he died last night.
His family decided to make his death public to warn others of the dangers of picking mushrooms without proper knowledge, said Stanwick, who has spoken to the boy's father.
"He basically wants to make sure that no other family has to go through what they've had to go through," said Stanwick. "It's just so so terrible."
Death cap mushroom Amanita phalloides Amanita phalloides or death cap mushrooms were first spotted in B.C. in 1997, found growing in Mission near old chestnut trees. (Paul Kroeger)
Deadliest mushroom in the world
It is the first recorded death in B.C. from a death cap mushroom, also known as Amanita phalloides, which kills more people than any other mushroom worldwide.
There have been two other significant but not fatal poisonings since the death cap was first spotted in B.C. in 1997, according to Paul Kroeger, a mycologist who helps identify mushrooms responsible for poisonings.
It is believed the fungus arrived years, if not decades earlier, on the roots of imported European trees, and is increasingly common in Vancouver, Victoria and the Fraser Valley.
There are now more than 70 documented locations in Vancouver with death caps, up from just six three years ago, said Kroeger. ■Deadliest mushroom in world on the rise in B.C.
The death cap contains a number of toxins, including amatoxin, which are not destroyed by cooking.
"This is what makes this mushroom so … scary," said Stanwick. "Even if you cook it, it will still have the potential to be deadly."
It's not been made public how much mushroom the boy ate, or in what form. One cap can be enough to kill an adult, usually through liver failure.
"Obviously in the case of this little boy it was too much for his body to handle."
Death cap in moss The fungus that grows death cap mushrooms was introduced to B.C. on European trees imported to beautify Vancouver, Victoria and other parts of the province. This death cap was growing on the base of a hornbeam tree near Main Street in Vancouver. (Tristan Le Rudulier/CBC)
Looks like edible straw mushrooms
Health officials warned last month of the death cap's growing prevalence in parts of B.C., and the boy's death has again prompted cautions not to forage for mushrooms without proper knowledge.
Death caps don't resemble any popular edible mushroom that grows natively in B.C., but they do look a lot like the paddy straw mushroom, a popular Asian edible mushroom.
Very young death caps have also been confused for puffball mushrooms, said Kroeger.
It's not clear what the family in this case believed they were picking.
"We obviously have to redouble our effort to educate the public," including possible signs where death caps are found, said Stanwick
Juvenile Amanita phalloides Death cap mushrooms can look like puffballs when they're young, but if you slice them open it's possible to see the death cap developing, says mycologist Paul Kroeger. (Paul Kroeger)
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musiclover420
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: Roger Wilco]
#23732807 - 10/12/16 11:16 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Too bad there aren't more details... Did this family have no idea what they were doing? Seems like child endangerment to even risk it with your kids.
Also how was he the only one effected? Did he just straight up eat the mushrooms off the ground without the parents realizing?
Because if they accidentally picked them and then cooked and ate them you would think they would have all been sick at the very least...
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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mushiefeet
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Registered: 01/18/11
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: musiclover420]
#23733227 - 10/13/16 06:24 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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"His family decided to make his death public to warn others of the dangers of picking mushrooms without proper knowledge, said Stanwick, who has spoken to the boy's father." Very tragic story but come on how idiot can people be PICKING MUSHROOMS WITHOUT PROPER KNOWLEDGE lol, the child pays the price for dumb parents.
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musiclover420
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: mushiefeet]
#23734589 - 10/13/16 03:57 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
mushiefeet said: Very tragic story but come on how idiot can people be PICKING MUSHROOMS WITHOUT PROPER KNOWLEDGE lol, the child pays the price for dumb parents. 
Seriously, I am kind of suspicious about this story sense it only mentions the 3 year old getting sick and dying...
If it was really an accident how come more of them didn't at least get sick? Did they let their kid eat a random mushroom right off the ground?
I just don't see how something like this could happen and end with only the kid getting sick and dying.
If the parents weren't paying attention and he just ate one that is major child endangerment...
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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impatientguy
Ganjalf a very mighty lab wizard



Registered: 11/26/14
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: musiclover420]
#23734745 - 10/13/16 04:56 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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was exactly what I was thinking too
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musiclover420
psychonaut



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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: impatientguy]
#23734778 - 10/13/16 05:12 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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I am glad I am not the only one, I almost didn't say anything so at to not offend anyone who may relate with the grieving parents.
Just seems very suspicious IMO. I am sure there are at least some more details the parents left out
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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Ran-D



Registered: 12/19/10
Posts: 16,313
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: musiclover420]
#23736552 - 10/14/16 09:47 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
musiclover420 said: If the parents weren't paying attention and he just ate one that is major child endangerment...
I don't know about that, it's pretty much impossible to control everything that goes into a 3 year olds mouth. If, on the other hand, the parents picked the mushroom and fed it to the child, I would think that is way more irresponsible and reckless.
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musiclover420
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: Ran-D]
#23737282 - 10/14/16 02:13 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ran-D said:
Quote:
musiclover420 said: If the parents weren't paying attention and he just ate one that is major child endangerment...
I don't know about that, it's pretty much impossible to control everything that goes into a 3 year olds mouth. If, on the other hand, the parents picked the mushroom and fed it to the child, I would think that is way more irresponsible and reckless.
It's a parents responsibility to look after and teach their kids, they may not be able to constantly watch their kid but they can at least teach them not to eat stuff off the ground.
Especially if your doing something like mushroom hunting where the kid is obviously going to get Interested in what they're doing and try to participate.
Clearly we have no way of knowing what exactly happened though.
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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Seriously_trippin
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Registered: 07/12/13
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: musiclover420]
#23737416 - 10/14/16 02:56 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Very sad, Rest In Peace . I'm mad at the family though, if they knew how to ID mushies that'd be different but a 3 y/o has no clue and it's just already dangerous
-------------------- R.I.P Zombi3, Blue Helix Modest Mouse Zappa Slothie That Kid With The face ShLong Le Canard split_by_nine & Big Worm Forever Etched in the sands of time in the shroomery and ever so beloved and deeply missed by many
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musiclover420
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: Seriously_trippin]
#23737453 - 10/14/16 03:07 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Seriously_trippin said: I'm mad at the family though, if they knew how to ID mushies that'd be different but a 3 y/o has no clue and it's just already dangerous
Exactly... I am really curious to know if they just weren't watching the kid or what. If they misidentified them why didn't they all get sick?
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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Blabble40
Scorpio

Registered: 11/11/14
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Re: 3-year-old Victoria boy dies from poisonous 'death cap' mushroom [Re: musiclover420]
#23744351 - 10/17/16 02:00 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sucks, I always thought Amanita was a good genus to learn so you could identify all the deadly poisonous ones. Heard phalloides actually tastes really good even considering it's poisonous. It looks just like muscaria, which is edible, except it isn't red with warts.
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