A young boy in Mexico tragically died after being exposed to a radioactive capsule.
The 10-year-old found the radioactive cobalt-60 capsule and took it into his home in his pocket, accidentally exposing his family to the chemical as well.
Apparently the capsule wasn't in its proper shielding, which would have controlled and reduced the radiation areas around it.
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The ordeal took place in 1962 and it still remains unclear where the young boy found the dangerous item.
Speculation at the time suggested that he found it in a dump or in a field, or that the capsule was already in the garden of the Mexico City-based home that the 10-year-old and his family moved into in March 1962.
After discovering it, the boy tragically died 38 days later. He'd kept the item in his pocket for several days before his mum found it and put it in a kitchen cabinet.
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Apparently the capsule was placed next to some drinking glasses and, despite it reportedly turning the glasses black, the family hadn't put two and two together.
Heartbreakingly, his mother (who was pregnant at the time), grandmother and two-year-old sister also died in the months that followed the boy's passing as a result of radiation exposure.
The father of the family, who said to have been exposed to 900-1,200 radiation absorbed doses (rad), was the only survivor.
In comparison, his son had been exposed to a huge 4,700-5,200 rad.
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A report at the time said the dad was 'asymptomatic' despite his exposure, and was placed under 'constant observation'.
If a person is exposed to radiation, some symptoms they may experience are extreme nervousness and confusion; severe nausea, vomiting, and watery diarrhoea; loss of consciousness; and burning sensations of the skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Long-term wise, it can cause a person to develop illnesses such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases.
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The devastating story has resurfaced on Reddit, and many have labelled the ordeal as 'scary'.
One person wrote: "This is what makes radiation such a scary thing, you can receive lethal dose without feeling a thing, until you get to the dying part. Which is usually slow and painful.
"And even if you survive the initial damage, you'll be living with constant fear of cancer for the rest of your life."
Another person agreed, saying: "It's scary as f**k, imagine seeing your entire family slowly die of unknown causes over a year and finding out a small item that can fit inside your pocket, is slowly killing your family."
Topics: World News
Niamh Shackleton