Wild boar blamed for severe food poisoning that left New Zealand family in 'vegetative state'
Three adults remain in a "vegetative state" and may be paralysed for life after reportedly eating wild boar that was possibly contaminated.
New Zealand woman Subi Babu, her husband Shibu Kochummen and his mother Alekutty Daniel are on life support, suffering from what is believed to be a severe case of food poisoning.
Their children, aged seven and one, escaped harm as the game meat was the only item of food they did not eat with their meal Friday evening, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The adults reportedly ate the wild boar Mr Kochummen had shot on a hunting trip.
Friend Joji Varghese told the newspaper neighbours reported the adults were throwing up every 15 minutes, the illness striking within half an hour of eating dinner.
Ms Babu called emergency services and fainted through the conversation, Varghese said.
Paramedics arrived at the family home in Putaruru, on New Zealand's North Island, to find the trio lying unconscious.
Varghese said medical specialists told him it could take up to two months for the poison to leave his friends' bodies.
"These were extremely active, full of life people and all of the sudden, nothing," he told the newspaper in tears.
"When I visit him I imagine what's going through his head and I'm telling him to not worry about it, 'We've got the children and we're talking with your family and they'll be here shortly'."
He added if they ever regain consciousness, the trio could suffer paralysis or tremors.
The meat has been taken for testing, with findings from a toxicology report expected on Saturday.
The couple's children are reportedly being looked after by their local church group.
Their grandmother is on a visitor's visa from India and does not have medical insurance, so she will be billed full medical costs for treatment that doctors say could last up to six months.
The Indian High Commission and Ministry for Vulnerable Children have been approached to help the family raise money.
There is also a call to the wider Kiwi/Indian community to help with household bills and health expenses.
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