A Sydney man who fell into a coma and became paralysed after being dared by friends to eat a slug has died, aged 29, News.com.au reports.
Eight years ago, Sam Ballard took his friends up on the slug-eating dare, only to become sick days later. When he presented to hospital with his symptoms, including serious pain in his legs, he was diagnosed with rat lungworm. The worm, usually found in rodents, can be carried by snails and slugs that have eaten rat faeces.
He then contracted eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis, which caused him to fall into a coma. More than 420 days later when he woke up he had an acquired brain injury and became paralysed. He has since required 24-hour care.
His family and friends appeared on The Project earlier this year in a report about Ballard’s condition, and about their struggle for adequate NDIS funding.
Ballard’s friend, Jimmy Galvin, tried to encourage young men to be more cautious during the interview:
Just take care of your mates, and before you jump off a roof into a pool or if you’re daring your mate to eat something stupid, just think about it because it can have the worst consequences. Not only on your mate, but their family and the rest of your friends, the rest of your life. Just take care of each other.
In this special report @Lisa_Wilkinson talks to the amazing family and friends of Sam Ballard #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/UXY5KGeWjF
— The Project (@theprojecttv) April 1, 2018
Lisa Wilkinson announced the news of Ballard’s death on last night’s The Project.
We have some sad news for you now. Earlier this year we brought you the story of Sam Ballard who, on a dare from his mates, ate a slug. He contracted rat lung disease with devastating effects. His friends stuck by him ever since. On Friday, Sam passed away, surrounded by his family and loyal, loving mates. His last words to his mum: ‘I love you.’ He was just 29 years of age. Tonight our thoughts are with his beautiful mum, Katie, and his very wide circle of family and friends.
