A 51-year-old food content creator in the Philippines has died after eating a toxic reef crab reportedly for a social media video, prompting warnings from local officials about the dangers of consuming unfamiliar marine wildlife.
Emma Amit, described in reports as a budding vlogger from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, gathered shellfish and crabs with companions on February 4 in a nearby mangrove forest. The group cooked the seafood in coconut milk before eating it, according to local accounts and footage cited by regional media.
In a video referenced by Philippine outlets and later reported internationally, Amit is seen harvesting and eating shellfish, including a brightly colored reef crab known locally as the “devil crab.” The species is scientifically identified as Zosimus aeneus.
The following day, Amit became seriously ill. Neighbors reported that she suffered convulsions and had difficulty breathing while being transported to a clinic. She was later admitted to a hospital as her condition deteriorated. She died on February 6, two days after consuming the crab.
Local officials said shells recovered from her home matched the toxic species. The crab, found in coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region, contains powerful neurotoxins, including tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin — poisons that affect the nervous system and can lead to respiratory failure. Medical authorities note that these toxins are heat-resistant and are not neutralized by cooking.
Village chief Laddy Gemang expressed confusion over the incident, noting that Amit and her husband were experienced fisherfolk.
“This is really saddening because they should have known,” Gemang said. “They live by the sea, so I know they know about this devil crab that’s dangerous to eat. So why did she eat it? That is what I’m confused about.”
Gemang urged residents to avoid consuming the species, stating that the crab has “claimed two lives” in the town. Authorities are monitoring others who may have eaten the same seafood for signs of poisoning.
The case has drawn attention beyond Palawan due to reports that the meal may have been recorded for online content. Officials have not publicly confirmed whether the crab was eaten specifically as part of a challenge or for increased viewership.
Beverly Villanueva, a friend of Emma Amit, described her passing as sudden and difficult to accept.
“You were like an older sister,” Villanueva wrote. “I will miss you always. I know you didn’t want to leave yet because you still had so many plans in life.”
