The police are investigating after an eight-month-old baby girl died and her older relative was left hospitalised and foaming at the mouth after allegedly eating poisoned food sent as a gift.
The tragedy happened in the Felipe Camarao neighbourhood, in the West Zone of Natal, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte.
Geisa de Cassia Tenorio Silva poses in undated photo. She is hospitalized in serious condition due to poisoning in Natal, Brazil. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
The eight-month-old baby and her 50-year-old cousin, who was looking after her, were admitted to hospital after eating acai granola, a breakfast item or snack where a purple berry is combined with granola.
According to the family, Geisa de Cassia Tenorio Silva, 50, and her cousin's daughter, baby Yohana Maite Filgueira Costa, became ill after consuming the acai and granola that Geisa received as a gift. It had been left at her house by a motorcycle deliveryman on 14th April.
The baby died in hospital, while the 50-year-old is currently in the ICU and intubated.
Picture shows acai and granola, undated. Geisa de Cassia and her cousin's daughter Yohana Maite Filgueira Costa, eight months old, became ill after eating acai and granola that Geisa received as a gift in Natal, Brazil. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
The civil police have confirmed that they are investigating the case and are awaiting a report from medical experts.
The police said: "The food consumed was sent for toxicological analysis, but the expert report has not yet been completed. There is a possibility of poisoning; however, any statement in this regard, at this time, would be hasty.
"Witnesses were heard and the Civil Police continue to monitor the case to continue investigating the facts."
The baby's mother, housewife Danielle Priscila Silva, said: "Her vital signs were low, her heartbeat was low, but over time, she got better.
Picture shows the stuffed animal delivered along with the food to Geisa's house in Natal, Brazil, undated. Geisa de Cassia and her cousin's daughter Yohana Maite Filgueira Costa, eight months old, became ill after eating acai and granola that Geisa received as a gift. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
"They tried to transfer her from the health centre to the Maria Alice Hospital. We didn't even get to leave the health centre. My daughter died in the health centre, inside the ambulance."
Geisa's son Yago said: "She was sweating a lot, her hands were shaking, she didn't even have the strength to say anything, she was foaming at the mouth, and then they began to suspect that it was a case of poisoning."
The investigation is ongoing.
(Joseph Golder / newsX)