Son of death cap mushroom victim reveals mother's last message
Simon Patterson, the son of Don and Gail Patterson, who tragically fell victim to a mushroom-related incident in Victoria, has spoken emotionally at a public memorial in Korumburra. This marked Simon's first public address since the unfortunate incident.
Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, tragically passed away after consuming a mushroom-infused meal at Erin Patterson's residence in Leongatha, Victoria.
At the Korumburra Recreation Centre, Simon emotionally shared, “Mum and dad were very much a team working at life together. The fact they died on consecutive days is fitting in some ways, as it reflects their togetherness as a couple that they always worked so hard to grow.”
Simon also disclosed the remarkable resilience of his father, who, despite being in his 70s, managed to survive an emergency liver transplant after the toxic meal. Sadly, his overall health deteriorated rapidly thereafter. Simon recounted the final message his mother sent to their family group chat before her hospitalisation, expressing gratitude for the love they shared.
“It was no fluke that mum’s final text message as she lay in Dandenong Hospital was: ‘Lots of love to you all’.
"As Mum and Dad lay in comas in the hospital in their final days and each day, we were unsure if they would recover or not, it was comforting to know that when we said: ‘See you later,’ we knew it was true.
“The only thing we didn’t know was when. In the meantime, we’ll miss them.”
Simon acknowledged his parents' strong Christian faith and emphasised that they were open-minded believers who respected diverse perspectives. He reflected on their perspective on death as an inevitable part of life but not the ultimate end.
In a gesture of gratitude, Simon thanked the medical staff at Austin and Dandenong hospitals for their care, particularly noting the compassionate act that allowed Gail to see Don one last time before his transfer to the ICU.
Heather Wilkinson's situation remains critical, and her husband, Ian Wilkinson, a church pastor, is recovering in the hospital after consuming the same meal. Reverend Fran Grimes expressed support for Ian's recovery during the memorial service.
Detectives are collaborating with the Department of Health to further investigate the incident.
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