A tragic incident involving a 10-year-old boy led to devastating consequences for his family, resulting in multiple deaths from radiation poisoning.
Acquiring radioactive material is a challenging task, but in 1962, a young boy managed to come across a radioactive capsule.
This unfortunate discovery proved to be catastrophic for him and his entire family.
The boy, from Mexico, discovered a radioactive cobalt-60 capsule and unknowingly took it home in his pocket, unaware of the potential danger it posed.
The capsule lacked proper shielding, which would have mitigated the radiation emitted and safeguarded the surrounding area.
Tragically, not only was the boy exposed to radiation, but his family members were also affected.
This heartbreaking event took place in 1962, and the origins of how the child found the capsule remain unclear.
Over time, various theories have emerged, with some suggesting he discovered it in a dump or a field, while others believe the capsule was already present in the garden of the Mexico City home the family moved into in March 1962.
IFL Science reports that a doctor investigating the poisonings noted: “The source was left to the family to keep and watch without any of the members of the family knowing exactly what the container was and what it contained.”
After the discovery, the boy succumbed 38 days later. Tragically, he had been carrying the capsule in his pocket for several days before his mother discovered it and placed it in a kitchen cabinet.
This prolonged contact meant the child was continuously exposed to radiation.
Inside the cabinet, the capsule was stored next to drinking glasses, which over time turned black due to radiation exposure.
Sadly, the family did not associate the blackening of the glass with radiation danger.
Tragically, the boy’s mother, who was pregnant, along with his grandmother and two-year-old sister, died in the months following his death due to radiation exposure.
The father, who endured exposure to between 900-1,200 radiation absorbed doses (rad), was the sole survivor.
In contrast, his son had been subjected to an overwhelming 4,700-5,200 rad.