A WIFE died after one of the world’s most poisonous mushrooms grew in her garden — and she picked and ate it.
Tina Hale, 57, was rushed to hospital with her husband Jocelyn, 48, after both mistook the death cap — amanita phalloides — for an edible one and savoured it.
He survived thanks to having only a small nibble. The death cap is so toxic just an ounce — 30g — can kill. Tina, who is thought to have three daughters and a son, died next day as medics battled to save her. A shattered pal of the couple said after the horror in Bridgwater, Somerset: “It’s awful.”
Coroner Michael Rose yesterday confirmed after adjourning an inquest: “Cause of death was multiple organ failure due to poisoning by the death cap mushroom.”
The fungi is notorious for looking just like safe varieties — and tasting DELICIOUS. Dr John Thompson, of the National Poisons Information Service, said: “It is not always easy to differentiate even for people with experience.”
Four years ago mum-of-two Amphon Tuckey, 39, was killed by one her niece picked on the Isle of Wight. Her inquest heard she suffered “30 hours of extreme agony”.