Filipino food influencer, 51, dies 2 days after eating toxic 'devil crab' in video

A food influencer in the Philippines has died two days after eating a poisonous crab known as a "devil crab" in a social media video.

In two videos posted on Feb. 4, Emma Amit, 51, filmed her and her friends fishing in a lake, then cooking various shellfish together with coconut milk on an outdoor stove.

They were in a mangrove forest near her home in Puerto Princesa, a coastal town in Palawan, according to the New York Post.

The last video ended with her biting into a sea snail.

Fell ill the next day

The crab's toxins took effect quickly, as Amit fell gravely ill the next day.

Neighbours said that she was convulsing while she was brought to a local clinic.

Soon, her health took a turn for the worse, and she was sent to a hospital.

On Feb. 6, two days after eating the shellfish meal, she was pronounced dead.

During investigations afterwards, village officials went to Amit's house and discovered shells of devil crabs in her trash.

According to the Smithsonian, the devil reef crab stores two of the most lethal toxins, tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, in its muscles.

Eating one will kill the diner in a matter of hours, the Smithsonian added.

Warning to stay vigilant

Following the incident, Philippine officials have been warning the public to be cautious and refrain from eating seafood they are not familiar with, the Philippines' Interaksyon reported.

The chief of Luzviminda, a village in Puerto Princesa, urged other residents in the seaside area to be doubly vigilant.

Amit was reportedly the second recorded case in the area suspected to be linked to the devil crab.

"Do not eat these dangerous devil crabs because they have claimed two lives here in our town," the village chief said, as quoted by the New York Post.

The officials have also been monitoring Amit's friends for symptoms.

Top images from Emma Amit's Facebook