BERGONDO, SPAIN – DECEMBER 19, 2021 37-year-old man originally from Colombia, who had been living in Europe for two years, specifically in Spain. He was single, had no children, lived alone in a rented apartment, and was currently unemployed.
One day, he was found dead. He was lying face down, dressed in everyday clothes, with visible traces of vomit and blood around him. There were no signs of violence on his body, but it was clear something was wrong.
Investigators questioned people close to him – his landlord and a friend who had recently seen him gathering some roots or tubers for food. Based on their statements and other findings, they began to suspect that the man had died from food poisoning.
At the scene, samples of the plants and roots he was said to have eaten were collected. An autopsy revealed that these roots were indeed in his stomach – specifically a plant from the genus Oenanthe, also known as “water hemlock.” This is a poisonous plant that contains very strong toxins during winter and spring. These toxins attack the nervous system and can cause vomiting, seizures, and eventually death due to respiratory failure.
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- Water hemlock 1
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- Water hemlock 2
Signs of poisoning were visible during the autopsy: vomit, inflammation in the respiratory tract, and other bodily changes. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of poison from this plant.
Since it was an unfortunate accident, local authorities were advised to warn residents against gathering and consuming these plants to prevent similar cases in the future.
The whole case was resolved thanks to the quick response of doctors, police, and forensic experts, who carefully investigated the scene and the body, together uncovering the true cause of death.
