A food influencer has tragically died after eating a poisonous devil crab for views. She allegedly ate the poisonous crustacean during a social media video.
Sadly, the devil crab meal killed 51-year-old Emma Amit. Amit allegedly harvested the shellfish from a mangrove forest near her home in Palawan. The video showed her cooking the devil crab in coconut milk before taking a bite. Sadly, she fell ill the next day due to the toxins in the animal. She was taken to a hospital where she later died.
She passed away on February 6. Investigators found devil crab shells in her trash. The crustaceans have neurotoxins similar to a pufferfish.
Laddy Gemang, chief of the village of Luzviminda, mourned the loss of the food influencer. He was shocked that Amit would eat a devil crab given her experience with the sea.
Food Influencer Dies After Eating Devil Crab
"This is really saddening because they should have known," he said. "They live by the sea, so I know they know about this devil crab that's dangerous to eat. So why did she eat it? That is what I'm confused about."
Following the death of the food influencer, officials are warning locals about devil crabs. You really should avoid eating them.
"So to the residents of Puerto Princesa, I am urging you to be doubly vigilant," Gemand warned. "Do not eat these dangerous devil crabs because they have claimed two lives here in our town. Don't gamble with your lives."
Meanwhile, they're also monitoring others who dined with the food influencer for any signs of potential poisoning. Her friend, Beverly Villanueva, described her death as "shocking and sudden."
"You were like an older sister," she wrote. "I will miss you always. I know you didn't want to leave yet because you still had so many plans in life, but why? That's a question that will never be answered, because you're gone."
