Eighteen Die Hunting Mushrooms - None from Eating Poisonous Shrooms

Some 18 European deaths have been linked to mushroom-hunters. Experts have been vocal in warning amateurs on the dangers of identifying and ingesting poisonous mushrooms, the effects of which range from hallucinations and illness to death, but none of the 18 deaths were from ingestion of mushrooms; all were due to carelessness, unpreparedness, and general bad luck.

All 18 fell down rocky slopes, into gorges, or died under similar circumstances. Authorities say more people are coming to Italy and the France border to hunt mushrooms during season, and most are "unfit" for the outing.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010