Brazil man dies after eating pufferfish. What happened to him?

A Brazilian man named Magno Sergio Gomes died after consuming a poisonous pufferfish, known for containing enough venom to fatally harm 30 humans. Reports indicate that the man, who prepared and consumed the toxic delicacy given to him as a gift, slipped into a coma and succumbed to the effects 35 days later.

Tragically, 46-year-old Magno Sergio Gomes passed away in an Espirito Santos hospital in Brazil after experiencing seizures and paralysis caused by toxins from a pufferfish, which are reportedly 1,000 times more lethal than cyanide. His sister, Myriam Gomes Lopes, shared details about the incident with Newsflash, shedding light on the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his death.

Gomes prepared the pufferfish and shared the meal with an unnamed friend, who remarkably survived the potentially lethal dish. Lopes informed Newsflash that her family is unaware of the origin of the gifted pufferfish and whether it was obtained through fishing or farming.


According to Lopes, her brother lacked experience in cleaning and preparing pufferfish. Gomes and his friend only removed the fish's entrails, extracted its liver, and proceeded to cook it, consuming the dish with lime juice. The effects of the toxins became apparent to Gomes less than an hour after consuming the fish.

As per National Geographic, pufferfish remain hazardous, even without inflating to resemble lethal, spiked balloons.

The substance responsible for Gomes's demise is known as tetrodotoxin. National Geographic indicates that this toxin, designed to dissuade predators from preying on the fish, is present in nearly every pufferfish.

FAQs:

Q1. What is pufferfish?
A1. Pufferfish remain hazardous, even without inflating to resemble lethal, spiked balloons, as per National Geographic.

Q2. How did Brazilian man die?
A2. The substance responsible for Gomes's demise is known as tetrodotoxin. National Geographic indicates that this toxin, designed to dissuade predators from preying on the fish, is present in nearly every pufferfish.