Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive."

This is not for a Darwin Award, but for a Near Miss.

Translation from the press

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/302416/0/ingiere/amanita/uci

Eats a letal mushroom in order to demonstrate it is not letal and ends in the hospital

A neighbour from Fuentes de Leon, Badajoz, Spain, Jose Manuel Higalgo, 45 years old, risked his life after voluntarily eating a mushroom Amanita phalloides, death cap, because, due to the poisoning he has suffered, he has been two days in the Critical Care Unit of Hospital Infanta Cristina in Badajoz.

All happened last sunday during a Micological workshop in Fuentes de Leon, when, after a day collecting and showing mushrooms, Hidalgo started arguing about the poisoning capacity of the mushroom, which was shown with a sign advertising its danger when only 20 grams are eaten.

Jose Maria Alvarez, eyewitness and member of the young and environmental local association La Sotarrana, organizers of the workshop, explained that, during the discussion, Hidalgo took suddently the mushroom shown and, in order to prove it was not letal, bit and started munching half of its cap.

Other neighboors told him to spit it and not to gulp it but, not attending their requests, he bit the mushroom again gulping the rest of the cap, so the neighbours decided to call the police and an ambulance.

Hidalgo, who seemed drunk, continued telling people that the mushroom was not letal and that hours would demonstrate who was wrong and who was right.

Although he first denied being moved to the local hospital in ambulance, a friend convinced him and when he reached hospital he started feeling the first symptoms of poisoning. He turned yellow, started bloating and throwing out, and then was immediatelly moved to the main hospital in Badajoz.

After being two days in CCU, he still is waiting for analyses about vital organs such as livers.

For those who do not know about the death cap>

A. phalloides is one of the most poisonous of all known toadstools. It has been involved in the majority of human deaths from mushroom poisoning, possibly including the deaths of Roman Emperor Claudius and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. It has been the subject of much research, and many of its biologically active agents have been isolated. The principal toxic constituent is α-amanitin, which damages the liver and kidneys, often fatally. No antidote is known.

Submitted on 11/07/2007

Submitted by: Galderic Lastras
Reference: http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/302416/0/ingiere/amanita/uci/, 07/11/07

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
Thanks, Galderic, we already have this story under consideration. However your submission does provide a little more detail on the situation and especially the type of mushroom this idiot decided to eat.

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I agree with Bruce. Thanks Galderic

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I was out of town (work) and missed this one the first time around. I always seem to miss the real doozies! I LIKE this one! Thanks, Galderic!

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