Relatives of the three people who remain unresponsive after eating wild boar have broken down at seeing them.
Wild boar may have poisoned the Putaruru family. Photo: RNZ / YouTube
Shibu Kochummen, his wife Subi Babu, and his mother Alexkutty Daniel are being treated for botulism in Waikato Hospital after falling ill more than a week ago.
Family friend Joji Varghese said the two relatives who arrived from India last night didn't understand the severity of the situation until they saw the family in the hospital.
"The picture that they had was this was food poisoning... They did not expect to see three people completely unresponsive, not being able to talk and they're actually shattered," he said.
Mr Varghese said Mr Kochummen's sister Sheena and Ms Babu's brother Sunil have spent nearly six hours at the hospital already and have only started recovering from their initial shock.
"Sheena broke down in tears... She just completely lost it," he said.
"Sunil just went silent, he just sat down and there was this blank look on his face ... for a long time."
Mr Varghese said the pair have been talking to the unconscious family members and trying to get some response.
He said they have not made any plans about how long the relatives will stay.
Mr Kochummen's children, aged one and seven, are currently being looked after by Mr Varghese's wife.
But Mr Varghese said it has already lifted their mood to see their aunty and uncle.
While the children have enjoyed being looked after by the church friends, they were starting to miss family members, he said.