Kerala youth who was under treatment for suspected food poisoning after eating shawarma dies

Rahul D. Nair, 22, died of septic shock after consuming shawarma from a restaurant in Kerala. The Thrikkakara police booked the restaurant owner and the health wing shut it down. Three other customers also reported health issues after eating from the same restaurant. Food safety officials are investigating to confirm food poisoning.

A youth who had been on ventilator support at a private hospital in Kochi for suspected food poisoning after consuming shawarma from a restaurant at Mavelipuram in Kakkanad, Kerala, died on October 25 afternoon. The deceased was Rahul D. Nair, 22, of Pala.

He was an employee of a company at the Cochin Special Economic Zone and was staying with friends at Chittethukara.

He ate the shawarma ordered from the restaurant through a food aggregator on October 18. According to his relatives, Rahul developed “health issues” after consuming the dish and had been to several hospitals before being admitted at the private hospital at Kakkanad.

“As per initial assessment, his death has been attributed to septic shock, a serious infection affecting internal organs,” said a hospital spokesperson.

He was brought to the hospital in a collapsed state on October 22 (Sunday) and was immediately put on ventilator support which was retained till his death. While blood tests pointed towards food poisoning, the hospital had sent samples to the lab at Amrita Hospital (in Kochi) for further confirmation. The result was not available yet.

The Thrikkakara police had booked the restaurant owner under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 284 (dealing with any poisonous substance so as to endanger human life) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide). Relevant sections may be added based on medical reports, inquest and the post-mortem examination report, said the police.

The health wing of the Thrikkakara municipality had shut down the restaurant after receiving a complaint on October 23.