Story on Sam Ballard Ate Slug Of Rat Lungworm On Dare - Rugby Player Death
In 2010, Sam Ballard ate the garden species as part of a dare, according to News.com.au in Australia. But after he acquired encephalitis and fell into a coma for 420 days, the initially innocent joke turned tragic.
Despite suffering severe brain damage during the event, he managed to survive for a further eight years.

The Sunday Project in Australia stated that he passed away on Friday. The Sunday Project host Lisa Wilkison reported on the news website 10 Daily that he was surrounded by 20 of those he most loved in the world.
Ballard's age has been the subject of conflicting claims, although it is thought that he was 19 years old when he ate the slug.