Mum and daughter ‘die of meals poisoning after Christmas dinner’ as docs probed
Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, and her 15-year-old daughter Sara Di Vita died within hours of each other after eating a Christmas dinner with their family in Italy
A mother and her 15-year-old daughter have tragically died after allegedly consuming a “contaminated” Christmas meal. The pair are reported to have passed away within hours of one another following the festive dinner with relatives.
Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, and 15-year-old Sara Di Vita reportedly ate fish, mussels, and mushrooms during the meal in Pietracatella, Italy. Officials reportedly now suspect they subsequently developed fulminant hepatitis – liver failure – after suffering food poisoning.
Soon after consuming the meal, the mother and daughter reportedly began experiencing symptoms including nausea and stomach pain. Sara was rushed to A&E twice before being discharged by medical staff.
Nevertheless, Sara’s condition worsened and she passed away at Cardarelli Hospital at 11pm on Saturday (December 27), reports the Mirror. Antonella was rushed to hospital shortly afterwards when she began showing identical symptoms.
Vincenzo Cuzzone, from Cardarelli Hospital told Il Messaggero: “The clinical picture took a truly rare turn, which quickly led to death, despite the care we provided. They began to show these symptoms after a meal, but this is fragmentary information gathered from family members who were in shock.”
The medic says Sara presented with “generic symptoms” when she arrived at hospital. Although he says that the “rapid and sudden progression” of the condition meant they decided to hospitalise Antonella as a precaution.
He further stated: “After her death, and given the rapid and sudden progression of events, we asked the family to bring her mother to the hospital as well, since relatives reported that she was suffering from the same symptoms. We tried to stay ahead of the curve, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”
Ganni Di Vita, 55, the patriarch of the family, is reported by La Parisien to have developed the same symptoms. He was transferred to the intensive care unit at Spallanzani Hospital in Rome, where he remains.
The couple’s 18 year-old-daughter is under close observation. The doctor added: “It seems that she did not have dinner with them that evening.”
Police collected food samples from the home, including tinned food and fresh produce, in an attempt to identify which dish could have poisoned the family. The public prosecutor’s office has also initiated an investigation, ordering autopsies to be conducted.
Village mayor Antonio Tommasone expressed his shock, saying: “We are devastated. This is a tragedy that leaves us speechless.
“The village is in disbelief at such a tragedy. I offer my condolences and those of the entire community.”
Local villagers held a vigil at the hospital following the deaths while Christmas events were cancelled. According to Il Messaggero, five doctors from Cardarelli Hospital in Campobasso are under investigation for manslaughter.
Prosecutor Nicola D’Angelo has stated that the investigation will scrutinise potential negligence, endeavour to uncover what poisoned the duo, and “ensure that no other citizens are involved in a tragedy of this nature”.
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