In a courtroom drama unfolding in Morwell, Victoria, Ian Wilkinson, the only person to survive a fatal beef Wellington lunch spiked with toxic mushrooms, recounted the harrowing moments leading to his hospitalisation.

Wilkinson and his wife, Heather, had eagerly accepted an invitation to enjoy a meal hosted by Erin Patterson, who stands trial for the murder of three individuals, including Heather Wilkinson.

Tragedy struck shortly after the meal; Heather and two other family members succumbed to mushroom poisoning, while Ian battled for his life in the hospital for seven grueling weeks.

Under intense scrutiny, Patterson's defense claims she panicked after unknowingly serving poisonous fungi, insisting there was no intent to harm.

In his emotional testimony, Wilkinson described the moment they realized something was terribly wrong. What began as a jovial lunch spiraled into chaos as he and Heather experienced severe vomiting and diarrhoea. After a frantic trip to the hospital, medical staff swiftly shifted their focus from food poisoning to the alarming possibility of mushroom toxins.

"We were run down the corridor in our hospital beds to urgent care," Wilkinson recalls, adding that they were warned by doctors about the serious nature of their condition.

The court was presented with stark evidence: the delectable beef Wellington, mashed potatoes, and green beans were confirmed to have contained death cap mushrooms, raising critical questions of intent regarding Patterson's role in the tragedy.

Wilkinson detailed how guests were served individual plates for the meal, with eerie precision. As the trial continued, he reflected on his relationship with Patterson, describing it as cordial but superficial, punctuating the shock of the events that unfolded.

The courtroom heard earlier this week that Patterson had made a claim about a serious health issue at the lunch, a conversation Wilkinson now deems suspicious.

As the trial progresses, the tension thickens, revealing deeper layers of a case that has captivated the nation. Family ties, tragic medical emergencies, and the layered complexities of human relationships converge in this unsettling narrative.

While Erin Patterson maintains her innocence, the grim reality of three tragic deaths underscores the severity of what transpired during that ill-fated meal. With the courtroom filled with tension, the search for truth continues as the jury weighs the evidence.