![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/australia-mushroom-deaths-accidental-says-cook/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/130684332_victims.jpg&description=Image source, BBC News Image caption, Victoria Police believe Erin Patterson's guests were fed death cap mushrooms, which are highly lethal The Australian woman who cooked a beef wellington using mushrooms which killed three relatives and left one critical has told police it was an accident. Erin Patterson, who is not facing charges, has provided a statement of events to police, local media report. Police believe the victims had eaten death cap mushrooms - which are highly lethal if ingested. In her statement, Ms Patterson said she had used some dried mushrooms but did not know they were poisonous. "I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones," said the 48-year old. "I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved." Her statement to Victoria Police has not been publicly released but was reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Nine Newspapers on Monday. Australia has been gripped by the mystery over the fatal lunch - held in Ms Patterson's home in the small town of Leongatha, Victoria on 29 July. Ms Patterson had invited her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather's husband Ian. Her estranged husband could not attend last minute. Hours after the meal, all four guests fell ill with what they initially thought was severe food poisoning. Within days, Heather, 66, Gail, 70, and Don, 70, had died. Ian, 68, is still fighting for his life in a Melbourne hospital as he awaits a liver transplant. Ms Paterson was identified as a suspect after the deaths - as it initially appeared that she and her children were unharmed from the meal. At the time, Australian police had also said she could be totally innocent. In her statement reported on Monday, Ms Patterson reiterated her innocence and said she herself had been hospitalised after the meal due to stomach pains. Image caption, Ian (right) is fighting f){kind=link}
The Australian woman who cooked a beef wellington using mushrooms which killed three relatives and left one critical has told police it was an accident.
Erin Patterson, who is not facing charges, has provided a statement of events to police, local media report.
Police believe the victims had eaten death cap mushrooms – which are highly lethal if ingested.
In her statement, Ms Patterson said she had used some dried mushrooms but did not know they were poisonous.
“I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones,” said the 48-year old.