Woman nearly dies after eating fermented swordfish contaminated with botulism

A 24-year-old woman from Arizona is recovering after nearly dying from botulism poisoning linked to fermented swordfish. Trinity Peterson-Mayes fell seriously ill in February, just days after sharing the dish with friends. Doctors later confirmed the rare but dangerous condition had left her paralysed and fighting for her life.

Peterson-Mayes first noticed something was wrong when she struggled to swallow water a few days after eating a small piece of fermented swordfish. The symptoms worsened rapidly, and she soon lost consciousness. Unable to breathe on her own, she was rushed to hospital and placed on a respirator.

Two of her friends who also sampled the swordfish were hospitalised with the same illness. Peterson-Mayes was later transferred to St. Joseph's Medical Center and the Barrow Neurological Institute, where tests confirmed botulism. The poisoning left her body temporarily paralysed, requiring intensive medical care. This isn't the first health battle for Peterson-Mayes, who survived childhood cancer twice. Her mother launched an online fundraiser to help cover mounting medical expenses as her daughter fought to recover. After weeks of treatment, doctors now expect her to be discharged as early as Wednesday.

Peterson-Mayes' case highlights the severe risks of foodborne botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness. She will leave the hospital with ongoing recovery needs, while her family continues to raise funds for her care. Health officials have not yet confirmed the source of the contaminated swordfish.