Family issues health update on survivor of mushroom meal 'that killed three people'

The family of one of the victims of the deadly mushroom meal that left three dead have given an update on his health.

Ian Wilkinson was one of four guest to fall ill following a family gathering in Victoria, Australia, on 29 July.

He and his wife Heather Wilkinson had joined her sister Gail Patterson and husband Don Patterson for lunch at their former daughter-in-law's house, where they ate a mushroom beef wellington.

However, tragedy struck when all four became seriously unwell, with Mrs Patterson and Mrs Wilkinson both dying on 4 August and Mr Patterson passing away the following day (5 August).

Family handout

Since then, Mr Wilkinson has been in a critical condition at hospital while he awaits a liver transplant.

But in a statement to Nine News, the 68-year-old is 'showing signs of improvement'.

When the news broke that the family had fallen ill following the meal, the spotlight has been on Erin Patterson and what part she may or may not have played.

In a statement to the police last week, which was subsequently obtained by the media, the 48-year-old once again pleaded her innocence, claiming she had never intended for anyone to get sick.

Ms Patterson also told the police that she too became sick, having been admitted to hospital on 31 July, receiving medication to prevent her from suffering damage to her liver.

However, she did admit to lying to police about when she threw out a food dehydrator recovered from the local tip, having previously claimed she had thrown the gadget out ‘a long time ago’.

She said: "I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones."

“I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."

It is not the first time the mother-of-two has spoken out in her own defence, previously issuing a statement to the media outside her home.

Family handout

And just yesterday (17 August), the police broke their silence on the message.

In a statement of her own, Deputy Police Commissioner Wendy Steendam said Ms Patterson’s comments may have hindered the investigation.

“The matter needs to be dealt with by [the police, not the media],” Steendam told ABC Radio Melbourne, adding that Ms Patterson’s lengthy statement had been widely circulated before the police force could take a look at it properly.

She also explained that Ms Patterson’s comments did not serve as an official police statement, as it was just one taken by her lawyers.

Steendam said: “What I would say is that … working on an investigation through the media is unhelpful to our investigation.

"The matter needs to be dealt with by us, looked at [by] us, and determined by us thoroughly what's actually occurred, and using the evidence that we have to determine and understand exactly what's happened and if we can explain what caused the deaths.”