A Greek couple suffering from acute liver failure after consuming poisonous wild mushrooms has been airlifted to Italy for life-saving transplants, following a frantic international search for donors.
The man, 65, and the woman, 55, were transferred Friday after the National Transplant Organization secured compatible grafts in Pisa and Rome.
The couple fell ill after eating mushrooms they had gathered in the Edessa region. Initially admitted to the local hospital with mild symptoms, their condition rapidly deteriorated, necessitating a transfer to AHEPA University Hospital in Thessaloniki.
Doctors there diagnosed acute liver failure, determining that immediate transplants were the only option for survival.
With no suitable donors available domestically, Greek health authorities coordinated with Italian counterparts to facilitate the emergency transfer.
Medical experts warn that consuming foraged mushrooms carries severe risks, as toxic species often resemble edible varieties and can cause irreversible organ damage within hours.
No updates have been released regarding the couple’s post-operative condition.