Four Members Of Same Family Suddenly Collapsed And Died After Entering Basement With Old Potatoes

Four members of the same family tragically lost their lives after they entered a basement filled with rotting potatoes.

The idea that potatoes could be a source of poison might seem far-fetched to many. 

However, for one family in Laishevo, a town near Kazan in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, this became a tragic reality.

Back in 2014, an eight-year-old girl was left orphaned after her father, mother, brother, and grandmother succumbed to a lethal gas emitted by decayed potatoes.

The rotten potatoes caused tragedy. Getty Stock Photo

The first to descend into the cellar, where the family stored their winter potato supply, was the girl’s father, Mikhail Chelyshev, a respected law professor. 

Unaware of the danger, the lawyer didn’t realize the potatoes had rotted significantly and quickly found himself in grave danger.

At the time, police reported that the 42-year-old fainted due to the toxic fumes and died shortly after.

When Mikhail didn’t return from what was meant to be a brief visit to the cellar, his family grew anxious about his prolonged absence.

His wife, Anastasia, went down to check on him, only to be overwhelmed by the same toxic gas.

Tragically, she passed away at the age of 38.

Their 18-year-old son, in an effort to locate his parents, ventured into the cellar next. 

Tragically, he too inhaled the deadly gases emitted by the spoiled potatoes and met the same fatal outcome as his parents.

Iraida, Anastasia’s 68-year-old mother, initially called a neighbor suspecting that something was wrong.

Four members of the same family died. Getty Stock Photo

However, before help could reach them, she too entered the cellar in hopes of finding her family, and succumbed to the gas, dying just like the others before any assistance could arrive.

It is believed that the grandmother left the cellar door open, which helped the fumes to disperse somewhat.

Maria, who was only eight years old at the time, did not enter the cellar and was the sole survivor of this tragic event.

"They all died of gas poisoning which has accumulated in the basement as a result of badly rotting potatoes," stated a local investigator following the incident.

"The poor girl found the bodies of the deceased."

While incidents like this are rare, Michigan State University highlights the importance of proper potato storage throughout the year.

"Keep them in a cool, dark place, and avoid exposure to light during transport," the university recommends.

They also advise: "If you find or buy green potatoes, throw them out. Also avoid eating potatoes that are past their prime, have eyes growing on them, or show any signs of decay."

It’s crucial to regularly check potatoes for any signs of mold or decay before consumption and to ventilate and clean any storage areas if the potatoes have spoiled.