Man, 46, Dies After 'Eating Pufferfish' Gifted By His Friend

A tragic incident unfolded over the weekend when Magno Sergio Gomes, a 46-year-old man from Brazil, lost his life after reportedly consuming a “poisonous pufferfish.” The deadly episode occurred in Aracruz, Espirito Santa, according to the report by the NY Post. Magno’s sister, Myrian Gomes Lopes revealed that her brother had never handled or cleaned a pufferfish before.

The lethal seafood was reportedly given to Magno as a gift by an unnamed friend, raising questions about its origin and safety. Despite lacking experience with the species, Magno and his friend decided to gut the fish, remove its liver, and then boil and consume it with lemon juice. Within an hour of ingesting the pufferfish, both Magno and his friend fell seriously ill.

Magno started to feel “numb in his mouth,” recounted Myrian Gomes Lopes.

Alarmed by the worsening condition, Magno rushed himself to the hospital. However, the numbness spread, and he went into cardiac arrest for eight minutes.

The US Centers for Disease Control reported that Magno suffered from the effects of tetrodotoxin, an exceptionally potent poison found in the liver and gonads of pufferfish. This toxin, over 1,000 times deadlier than cyanide, interferes with nerve signals to muscles, leading to paralysis and potential death.

Despite being intubated and put on life support, Magno passed away on January 27 after spending 35 days in the hospital. The toxin had paralysed his system, and seizures in the later stages significantly impacted his brain, leaving little chance of recovery.

Miraculously, Magno’s friend survived, though he is struggling with neurological issues affecting his legs. “He’s not walking very well,” shared Myrian Gomes Lopes. “He was neurologically impacted, but he is recovering.”

Raw pufferfish, known as fugu in Japan, is considered a delicacy, and gourmands enjoy the slight buzz that comes with ingesting trace amounts of the toxin. In Japan, only licensed fugu chefs are permitted to prepare the dish due to its hazardous nature.

Ueno Kenichiro, owner of the fugu restaurant Fuku no Seki in the Yamaguchi Prefecture, emphasised the importance of safe preparation. While Japan sees around 50 poisoning incidents per year, the majority occur when inexperienced individuals attempt to handle or consume the pufferfish, similar to the tragic case of Magno Sergio Gomes in Brazil, reports the NY Post.