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Youth takes deadly Facebook bait
False information on social media has led to the death of a youth who drank the juice made by blending the leaves of a poisonous plant that has no known ayurvedic benefit.
The victim, Ishan Perera
His life had hung in the balance for six days at Gampaha District Hospital, a coroner’s inquiry had been told.
Former sailor Ishan Perera, 33 from Moragoda, Gampaha, a physical fitness enthusiast had been known to use herbs as well.
Posts on Facebook and videos on YouTube had claimed that the leaves of the plant known as ‘Gaja Madara’ could bolster physical fitness.
“My son used to take lots of herbal drinks. He told me that he was trying to experiment with some leaves known as ‘Gaja Madara’, which had been publicised on Facebook [posts]. “He brought leaves and made juice using the blender,’’ Renuka Jayalath 54, mother of the victim, told the inquiry held by coroner R.P. Rajapakse.
“On January 28, he had extracted juice and drank part of it and kept a portion in the refrigerator. Within 10 minutes my son collapsed. With the help of neighbours we took him to the Gampaha hospital,’’ she said.
Ishan was admitted to the intensive care unit. All attempts to revive him failed and he died at the Gampaha hospital last Monday.
Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, Tikiri Bandra Gunatillake, who did the autopsy had reported that death was caused due to toxication.
Dr Gunatillake told the Sunday Times that he has received the remainder of the juice left by the victim in the refrigerator for an examination.
He said that consuming such juices could have adverse effects on the brain, heart and nervous system. “The system could freeze and it could be fatal,’’ he added.
“I have found out that the plant was poisonous and there were several misleading reports on social media. People should be careful of such claims,’’ Dr Gunatillake said.
Dr Tikiri Bandra Gunatillake
Several postings on Facebook had claimed that the ‘Gaja Madara’ tree could help cure various ailments and that it also brings prosperity to homes.
One posting said that it was a ‘majestic plant’ useful in herbal medicine.
Professor Sujeewa Herapathdeniya of the ayurveda faculty of the Colombo University told the Sunday Times that the plant is poisonous and not used as a herb.
“This plant is used as a bio defence fence to protect people from wild elephants. Elephants usually run away when they see this plant,’’ he said.
A nursery has been created to plant ‘Gaja Madara’ in Hambantota and provide plants to areas in the North, North Western and Eastern provinces to be used as a bio defence against elephants. “People should be careful of false campaigns,’’ he said.
The Facebook post: Beware of false campaigns
Leaves and fruit from the Gaja Madara plant
A poisonous blend. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi