This is the first picture of a 10-year-old boy who survived a Christmas cake poisoning that left three people dead.
Matheus Marques da Silva has spent the last week in intensive care after tucking into the festive treat which had been baked by his great aunt Zeli Dos Anjos, 61.
Within hours though the pair were rushed to hospital suffering from severe vomiting and breathlessness, along with four other family members.
Zeli’s sisters Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58, and Neuza Denize Dos Anjos later died as did Matheus’s mum Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43.
On New Year’s Eve, the schoolboy was moved out of intensive care at the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes hospital in the southern Brazilian town of Torres and onto a paediatric wing.
The hospital is just a few minutes walk from the apartment of his aunt Maida where the tragedy unfolded and which is now being investigated by local police.
Matheus was visited by family members after being moved and they authorised the release of a picture showing him with Maida’s husband, Jefferson, who was also treated in hospital after eating the cake.
Relatives said that Maida, was Matheus godmother and he was particularly close to her, while Neuza was his grandmother.
This is the first picture of 10-year-old Matheus Marques da Silva who survived a Christmas cake poisoning that left three people dead
Pictured: The Christmas cake that was consumed by guests on December 23
A picture found on Zeli’s social media by MailOnline shows a similar white icing covered fruit cake, topped with cherries which she baked in 2021 and gathered with her are husband Paulo (right, next to his wife) and other relatives
In a touching letter to his local priests Father Leonir Alves and Father Almo Kohler and which was also given out by the family, Matheus asked ‘for prayers for himself and the rest of his family’.
Father Leonir said: ‘Receiving a letter from a child who perhaps has not yet fully understood what happened to him and his family is a demonstration of faith and hope.
‘At the beginning of this year, these are the words that drive us: faith and hope for better days.’
The letter was read out during a church service in Torres for the victims on Monday night.
It said:’ Dear Father Leone and Father Almo, I want to ask that my mother, godmother and grandmother rest in peace, that God welcomes them and gives them eternal life.
The graves of Tatiana Denize Silva dos Santos, 43 and Neuza Denise Silva dos Anjos, 65 in the Sao Vincente Cemetery in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Joao Silva Dos Anjos (left) was among seven people who attended the traditional meal on December 23 at which Zeli Dos Anjos, 61, regularly makes the festive treat
Joao was married to Zeli’s sister Neuza (right), who died in the tragedy along with their daughter Tatiana
Zeli dos Anjos (pictured) prepared the traditional ‘Bolo de Natal’ festive treat for a family afternoon coffee
‘I can’t be present because I am in hospital, I would like you to say a prayer for them and me. Thank you.’
A family member who was at the service told MailOnline:’ It was a very moving experience for everyone and chance for the family and the parish to come together and pray.’
Police are still investigating the exact circumstances of what happened on December 23 and there have been reports traces of ‘arsenic’ were found in blood samples of the victims.
However, in a statement on Monday forensic experts insisted there had been ‘no official confirmation’ that arsenic had bene found and tests were still ongoing.
Torres police chief, Marcos Vinicius Muniz Veloso, told MailOnline ‘all theories were being investigated and that nothing has been ruled out’.