Botulism family miss out on ACC

Three family members struck down by suspected botulism after eating wild boar face a six-figure medical bill that will not be covered by ACC.

Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 33, and his mother Alekutty Daniel, 62, face months of rehabilitation after they were found unresponsive on the floor of their Putaruru home on November

10.

They suffered paralysis and vomiting after eating freshly slaughtered wild boar and were rushed to Waikato Hospital. They have since awakened and were slowly regaining their cognitive skills.

Their children Abiya, 7, and

Johana,12 months, were set to fly back to India on Sunday to be cared for by family members until their parents were well enough to be reunited with them.

Family spokesman Joji Varghese said the family had been informed by ACC case they would not qualify for compensation because the ingestion or inhalation of bacterium is not considered an accident unless it is the result of a criminal act.

‘‘It’s absolutely ridiculous. I can’t understand the logic behind it.’’

This was the same legislation used in the Havelock North water crisis.

The legislation needs to be looked at a ministerial level, Varghese said.

ACC Minister Iain LeesGalloway said that he was ‘‘open to examining the issues raised in this and similar cases’’.

Medical bills for Kochummen and his wife were covered by public health, as the pair are permanent residents, having moved here five years ago. But Daniel was visiting New Zealand on a sixmonth visitor’s visa and did not qualify for any monetary support.

Health authorities were yet to confirm botulism was responsible for their illness, but it’s the only thing they’re testing for and family members are responding to antitoxins for botulism.