Food blogger and mum dies just two days after eating toxic crab on social media video
A food blogger has died after eating a poisonous crab on a video she uploaded to social media.
Emma Amit, aged 51, died in hospital two days after she filmed herself eating the toxic Zosimus aeneus crab, known locally as “Devil Crab.”
The social media star posted a video of her eating the crab in the Philippines on Wednesday February 4.
Amit, who lived near the seaside in the town of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, was known for posting videos online of her hunting sea animals, including crabs, snails and shellfish. In further videos she would then show herself cooking and eating them.
Barangay Chief Laddy Gemang told ABS-CBN, a Philippine news outlet, that the content creator lost consciousness shortly after eating the crab and was rushed to a local hospital, but she could not be saved and died two days later. Her friend, who ate the crab with her, who has not been named, also died.
After her death, officials visited Amit’s home to investigate the cause of her death and found seven crab shells there, according to ABS-CBN.
The Zosimus aeneus crab contains a combination of toxins that are potentially lethal when consumed. It is considered the most poisonous crab in the Philippines, and it is thought that 50% of people who eat them losing their life. The crab is located across the Indo-Pacific region.
Amit also posted videos on her social media of her fishing with her husband, and then preparing the food they have caught for their children after returning.
Following her death, Gemang urged local residents to be vigilant of the poisonous crabs in the area. “Be careful not to eat this devil crab because it is deadly," he said, per ABS-CBN. "It is very dangerous to eat this type of crab because it can kill you in a matter of hours.”