Kochi Youth’s Tragic Death Suspected Due to Shawarma Food Poisoning

A tragic incident unfolded in Kochi on Wednesday when a young man, Rahul D Nair, aged 22 and hailing from Teekoy in Kottayam, passed away while receiving treatment for suspected food poisoning. Hospital authorities are waiting for the results of tests on Rahul’s internal organs to determine the exact cause of death.

Rahul, employed in the special financial sector, was residing in Chittethukara with his friends. His family reported that he lost consciousness on October 18, subsequent to consuming an online-ordered shawarma, an Arabian meat-filled roll, from Le Hyatt Hotel in Mavelipuram. On October 19, he sought medical attention and returned home, only to be readmitted to the hospital on October 22 due to weakness.

A medical bulletin from the Sunrise Hospital in Kakkanad revealed that Rahul arrived at the emergency department in a cardiac arrest condition around 10.30 am on Sunday. “The patient had a history of fever and loose stools since October 19. The patient was revived, put on the ventilator and was in severe shock. He was under the treatment of a multi-disciplinary team. The patient showed symptoms and signs of severe septicemia and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. Despite our best efforts, the patient’s condition deteriorated and was declared dead on October 25 at 2.55 pm,” the bulletin stated.

Hospital authorities suspect poisoning but await the test results to confirm if the shawarma caused the tragedy, noting that Rahul’s kidney and liver were damaged, leading to a heart attack.

Consequently, the Thrikkakara Municipal Corporation ordered the restaurant’s closure at the health department’s behest, and the police initiated a case against the owner. While the food safety and forensic departments jointly inspected the premises, they were unable to obtain a sample of the shawarma prepared that day. A sample from the restaurant has been sent for testing. Health Minister Veena George has urged the relevant authorities to provide a swift report.

Rahul’s cremation will occur later, and he is survived by his father K K Divakaran Nair, mother M P Silvy, and siblings Karthik and Bhavya.