Three people hospitalised after mushroom poisoning

Three people were poisoned after eating the death cap mushroom, mistaking it for a edible mushroom

Three people in Jersey, including a mother and son, have been poisoned after eating a death cap mushroom, the BBC understands.

They were poisoned on 15 September after eating the mushroom which had been mistaken for an edible one.

They were treated in hospital, and the BBC understands at least one of them remains there; with the government later issuing a warning about the dangers of foraging.

A Health and Community Services spokesperson said: “We cannot provide any information about medical cases due to patient confidentiality.”

Death caps can be mistaken for edible fungus because they look similar to many safe varieties.

A piece the size of a coin is enough to kill an adult if eaten and there is no known antidote.

Charlotte Shenkin said it was "essential to be aware of the real and potentially deadly risks of eating wild fungi"

Mycologist [fungi expert] Charlotte Shenkin, who lives in Jersey, said interest in foraging had risen steadily in the island in recent years.

She said: "While everyone can benefit from spending more time in nature and learning more about fascinating organisms like mushrooms and other fungi, it’s essential to be aware of the real and potentially deadly risks of eating wild fungi without knowledge and caution."

She said that, to keep safe, people should:

• Never eat a wild mushroom they could not confidently identify themselves, especially if was given it to them

• Never eat a wild mushroom they were not 100% certain about, adding: "If in doubt, throw it out"

• Always seek a second opinion on wild mushroom identification

• Always keep an uncooked sample when planning to eat wild mushrooms in case they do become ill

• Always research the cooking requirements of the specific mushrooms they intended to eat, as even edible species could be poisonous if improperly cooked

• Always see help without delay if they began to feel ill, even a few days after eating wild mushrooms