For Marcus and Michele Lemin it started like a usual night out.
The Perth couple had ordered cranberry juice for their daughters Hannah and Olivia, aged 11 and 12, at an Italian restaurant on Friday night.
They were horrified at what happened next to their girls, in an incident that is being investigated by health authorities.
“My daughters just went to gulp it down and they both spat the cranberry juice out and said ‘It’s poisoned,’” Michele told the ABC.
“I said don’t be silly, and took the glass, and I went to gulp it down and then spat it out.”
The concerned parents now claim they had been served a pink-colored solution of citronella torch and lamp oil.
After smelling the liquid, Marcus demanded that staff at the front counter show him the bottle it came from. He claims the staff member at first refused, saying it was simply “old cranberry juice”.
However he did eventually get a bottle out from the fridge.
The bottle allegedly had the label “plus Bifenthrin” on it, along with a warning.
The poisons information centre advised the family to hurry to the Perth Children’s Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
The girls suffered from various symptoms and were monitored in hospital for six hours.
“My daughters’ … stomachs were burning, their fingers and hands were tingling,” Michele said.
“They had a headache … it was awful.”
Olivia explained to 9 News: “I was really scared of what it was, and I was scared I was going to die.
“It felt like someone had poured fire in your stomach and it felt like you had pins and needles in your arms and legs.”
They have since been discharged and are at home resting.
Marcus has complained to the Health Department, as well as contacted the local council.
The restaurant said it was investigating the incident.
News.com.au has contacted its management for further comment.
