Doctor Dies After Eating Blowfish (from News.com)

[zrealist]

Doctor dies after eating blowfish

By Andrea Hayward

May 29, 2007 11:32am

A SHIP'S doctor has died in Western Australia after eating blowfish, a delicacy that can prove fatal if not prepared properly.

Authorities were called to an iron ore ship off Dampier early on Saturday after a 43-year-old Chinese man suffered paralysis and his breathing became laboured.

"We did a co-ordinated rescue effort through Australian Search and Rescue," said Acting Sergeant Chris Hinch.

"Initially they said it was food poisoning from eating fish and we went out on a boat with two nurses who started CPR on the ship and they did CPR on the doctor all the way back," he said.

The doctor died in a Karratha hospital on Sunday morning, while two other crew members were also treated, police said.

Sgt Hinch said police learned through an interpreter that the ship's doctor had shared the blowfish with another crew member on Friday night.

"The other person who had eaten the fish fell ill and made himself vomit," he said.

"There was another gentleman who did CPR on the doctor and fell ill because the doctor had vomited while he was giving him CPR.

"We bought him to shore as a precautionary measure."

Blowfish contain deadly poison in their organs and in Japan, where they are considered a particular delicacy, only licensed cooks with special kills are allowed to prepare them.

"Apparently it is a delicacy and there are bars you can go to," Sgt Hinch said.

"They call it fugu and you have to sign an indemnity to say the chef or owners are not at fault if you fall ill," he said.

[silverbike]

I believe the toxin involved has also been found in leatherjacket species in tropical waters, which is why some Oz fishing books say not to eat leatheries caught north of the border.

Any truth to this?