Man dies after eating a gecko as a dare

David Dowell passed away in complete agony after contracting a salmonella infection. It is believed that he picked up the infection after eating a gecko.

According to LAD Bible, the dad of three was struck down with the illness two days after he was reportedly dared to eat the lizard while at a party in December last year.

His family was left heartbroken over his death and want answers as to what occurred. 

Dowell, from Brisbane Australia, was left in excruciating pain and was rushed to hospital by paramedics who initially thought he had a bad bout of gastroenteritis or a severe hangover, news.com.au reports.

Speaking to 7 News, his partner of 15 years, Allira Bricknell, said his death had been a massive shock.

"We never thought this would happen, it was just a big shock and it still is a big shock," she said.

"He was a great person, he was the best person I have ever met, he was the best dad to our children."

After spending a day in the hospital, medics diagnosed David with salmonella - an illness which causes diarrhoea, sickness, stomach cramps, and fever.

However, in David's case, it was even worse. He began throwing up green bile and was left with black urine. His stomach became so bloated his family says he looked 'six months pregnant'.

His family thought that the salmonella had been caused by chicken, but then David's friend told Allira they were 'pretty sure' he had eaten a gecko at the party, and when she passed this information on to a doctor, she was told that 'could have been it'.

David's sister, Hannah, told The Brisbane Times: "But there has been no evidence that he actually ate it because there was, 'Oh yeah I saw him eat it,' and then, 'No, I didn't see him eat it. It was a dare, so he might have intended to eat it and then thrown it away. At the end of the day, we don't know whether he actually ate the gecko. David never mentioned it."

Tragically, on 11 December, less than a fortnight after the party, David died while in surgery.

His family said he 'basically rotted from the inside out'.

They are now asking Mater Hospital, where David was treated, for answers about his death - particularly in relation to decisions made by the medical team. 

In a statement, the hospital said it was unable to comment on David's death.

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