Teen who swallowed a slug on a dare became a quadriplegic

[Vulcan]

It all started in 2010 when a then 19-year-old Sam Ballard was dared to swallow a garden slug by his mates.

Who among us can honestly say we haven't taken part in a dare or two at this age when having a few drinks with our friends.

Sadly, for Sam, it was the beginning of an unimaginable turn.

The slug spread a very rare infection to Sam called rat lungworm.

While typically only rodents are attributed to spreading the worm, it's possible for slugs to spread it after eating infected rat faeces.

In an even worse turn of events, the majority of people who contract rat lungworm never experience any symptoms, but Sam was in the tiny percent of people who don't recover due to a severe brain infection.

After being rushed to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, Sam slipped into a coma for 420 days, and when he regained consciousness, it was discovered he was a quadriplegic

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/latest-news/boy-ate-slug-contracts-rat-lungworm-45550

 

[Just Creed]

Damn

 

[USA!USA!]

Jesus Christ

I ate a worm on a dare at boy scout camp once - probably have shit swimming in my brain now, eh?

 

[Fatt Hughes]

rat lungworm sounds like a metal fking name.

 

[HARRISON_3]

That's a long ass coma.

 

[Zer]

Cot damn, poor guy

Worst I ever caught off a dare was oral herpes. I guess I should be thankful

 

[Headkicktoleg]

But would be eat a tide pod?

 

[minute bull]

Shit you are what you eat.

 

[Hearse Lightning]

I get garden slugs around my house every fall. Can't imagine eating one.

 

[Just Creed]

This is why you don't leave catfood outside in the garden cause slugs love catfood and your cat ends up catching diseases from it

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

You become what you eat

 

[Mark Cutting]

rat lungworm sounds like a metal fking name.

Grindcore. Napalm Death style

 

[Swoliosis]

That's a long ass coma.

I’ve seen people on ventilators with sedatives for three weeks and even that’s enough to fuck you up to some degree.

 

[Strange King]

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/latest-news/boy-ate-slug-contracts-rat-lungworm-45550

If going by mr glasses logic there should be a slug/bug out there that makes you super strong

Whos game to try it?

 

[ClubFoot]

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

 

[ralphc1]

Natural selection works!

 

[blitzk]

that's tough shit, man.

 

[ralphc1]

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy, Oy, Oy

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

You mean, he can read minds?

 

[MusterX]

That's a long ass coma.

Not really, coma's can last decades. Sometimes people actually wake up after being in a coma for 20 or 30 years.