2 die from food poisoning, electrocution in Medellin

CEBU, Philippines – Just weeks after a family in Lapu-Lapu City was poisoned for eating sea hare, a man died in Medellin town after he allegedly ate puffer fish last Tuesday afternoon.

The casualty was identified as Lino Miro, 27, a native of Napul-an, Samar and temporarily residing in barangay Antipolo in Medellin town.

Based on the police blotter, it was Miro’s neighbor Rustom Velez who informed the police that Miro experienced dizziness after eating puffer fish. He died just minutes after he was brought to the Severo Verallo District Hospital.

According to emedicinehealth.com, tetrodotoxin, the poison found in puffer fish, blowfish, balloon fish, toads, sunfish, porcupine fish, toadfish, globefish, and swellfish is one of the most toxic poisons in nature.

Unless the chef preparing the puffer fish is specially trained “to cut the meat in a particular fashion,” the dish may contain a large amount of the toxin.

Meanwhile, the day after Miro’s death, a 40-year-old woman was electrocuted when she went up a breadfruit tree to get leaves to feed to her cows.

The victim was identified as Ignacia Veloso Monterola, married, a resident of barangay Antipolo.

Investigation revealed that Monterola accidentally touched a live wire of CEBECO II when she was reaching out for leaves of a breadfruit tree locally known as “kulo”. She fell from the tree unconscious.

Monterola was rushed to the Severo Verallo District but she was declared dead on arrival. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)