Teen Becomes A Quadriplegic After Swallowing Garden Snail

From: Paul K.

Sent: March 12, 2018

To: undisclosed recipients

Subject: Fw: Teen Becomes A Quadriplegic After Swallowing Garden Snail

A 19-year-old rugby player in Australia swallowed a garden slug during a drunken dare. The slug was infected with the rat lungworm parasite, causing the teen to develop a serious brain infection. Eight years later, the dare has left the teen a quadriplegic, and now the Australian government has cut his medical financial aid.

Sam Ballard unknowingly swallowed a slug infected with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, also known as the rat lungworm, The Daily Telegraph reported. The parasite caused Ballard to develop a serious brain infection called eosinophilic meningoencephalitis.

Ballard fell into a coma for 420 days and upon waking up was no longer able to use his limbs and required a feeding tube. The now 27-year-old requires constant care and attention. In September, his mother Katie Ballard received a text message from the Australian government informing her that they would be cutting his financial aid, Fox News reported.

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