Ate a slug fell into a coma and died 8 years later: what led an innocent friendly debate

In 2010 Sam bollard (Sam Ballard) from Australia led a carefree life, played sports, played Rugby and didn't even know existed that will become disabled. And the reason for all the problems the guy has become a regular argument with friends. One evening, sitting in the courtyard, the guys made a bet whether Sam to eat a slug.

And he did it, and after eight years died, when he was already paralyzed. What happened that day, read our material.

Source: Independent

A major mistake in his life, the Australian Sam bollard made when he was 19 years old. One evening in 2010 he spent time with friends. The boys drank and had fun, nothing boded ill.

Then the conversation quickly moved in another direction. Friends started to joke that none of them will be able to eat the disgusting creature. As a friend Sam said firmly: "I can do it!" and he did it.

Soon after, the teenager began to feel unwell. Especially the boy was bothered by severe pain in the legs. Sam's mother Kathy Ballard (Katie Ballard) suspected he had multiple sclerosis, which had suffered by his father. The woman took the son to hospital but the diagnosis was not confirmed. However, what they told the doctors, was much worse...

It turned out that the slug was infected with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Once in the body of a young man, he caused the development of angiostrongylus. In other words, brain damage.

Sam Ballard, surrounded by his friends

Shortly after Sam was diagnosed, he slipped into a coma. In this state, the young man spent 420 days and woke up paralyzed.

Sam was not able to eat and drink, demanded round the clock care. However, as stated by friends of the guy, he understood everything going on around.

Sam's friend Jimmy Galvin (Galvin Jimmy) said that he personally saw this during one of his visits to the hospital.

Former Australian Sprinter Matt Shirvington to Sam Ballard at a charity evening to raise funds for the treatment

All subsequent years, Sam spent in hospitals trying to combat the disease. Despite all the efforts, the only thing the guy managed to recover slight movement in the legs.

Cathy Ballard with son, Sam

The mother and friends of Sam almost never left his room, though, to see the young man in this state was a serious challenge for them.

On the morning of 2 November 2018 in the hospital, Hornsby, surrounded by 20 people closest to you, Sam Ballard died. His last words were addressed to the mother. The boy said, "I love you".

The parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, also called Rat lung worm lives in the lungs of rats and discharged together with the feces. If it will eat freshwater or terrestrial molluscs, and their later man, he can get a disease called angiostrongylosis. The disease leads to serious disturbances of the CNS, the worst outcome is paralysis or death.