Kerala family in New Zealand yet to recover

KOLLAM: Three members of a Keralite family settled in New Zealand for the past five years are in critical condition after eating the meat of the wild boar. Shibu Kochumman, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, and mother Elikkutty Daniel, 62, are yet to recover since they fell unconscious on Friday night last week. The two children of the couple are safe as they did not consume the meat. Shibu Kochumman had hunted a wild boar from near their house in Hamilton which the family cooked and ate for dinner. Within half an hour, the adults in the family who ate the meat started vomiting and fell unconscious. Mr. Shibu informed the emergency service before he fainted.

They were taken to a nearby hospital and continue to be under critical care. Doctors suspect the condition to be caused by the Clostridium Botulinum bacteria in the body of the wild boar that affects human beings if the meat is not properly cooked. However, they are yet to receive the test results. Meanwhile according to reports, the condition of Elikkutty Daniel and Subi Sabu are improving. The family from Neeleswaram in Kottarakkara is settled in Putaruru, a town in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. Shibu Kochumman is working in a private firm in Waikato while his wife is a nurse there.