Deadly mushroom lunch: Fresh breakthrough hopes as sole survivor of poisoned meal puts on a powerful public display at wife’s memorial

The sole survivor of a deadly mushroom lunch is believed to be co-operating with police after a powerful public display at his wife’s memorial.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson mourned his late wife on Wednesday in his first public appearance since falling ill himself.

Heather Wilkinson, 66, was one of four people who ate beef Wellington at Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home in the state’s south-east on July 29.

Mrs Wilkinson died after lunch, as did her sister Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70.

Wilkinson, 68, also fell seriously ill after lunch and spent nearly two months in hospital.

The pastor of the Baptist church returned home on September 22, where he continues to receive help from caregivers at home.

Ian Wilkinson is seen arriving at his wife Heather’s memorial service on Wednesday

While it remains unknown whether Mr Wilkinson has given homicide detectives a full statement, his strong performance on Wednesday proved he had more than he was capable of.

Onlookers told Daily Mail Australia they were sure if Mr Wilkinson had not already spoken to detectives, he seemed well enough to be able to.

After eight weeks in the hospital, Wilkinson looked thinner and paler than the photo that media organizations have published of him since news of the tragedy broke.

Uniformed police officers watched Mr Wilkinson as he stood and spoke to well-wishers for more than an hour after his wife’s memorial service.

Undercover officers were also expected to be among the mourners awaiting an appearance by Erin Patterson, which did not materialize.

One by one, Mr Wilkinson hugged and shared stories with a line of friends, family and parishioners who meandered back to the Korumburra Indoor Recreation Center where the service had been held.

Wearing a black mask, Mr Wilkinson showed no fear of catching an illness as he continued to mingle with more than 300 people who attended his wife’s memorial.

Although his strength waned, Mr. Wilkinson returned to sit on his footstool, where he continued to converse with all who wished to speak to him.

Hours earlier, Mr Wilkinson had braved a media pack, walking straight through the front door of the recreation centre, past a throng of reporters and cameras.

Heather Wilkinson’s son Dave was seen at the memorial service on Wednesday

He had arrived nearly an hour early for the service, catching his media lackey Jessica O’Donnell by surprise as she gathered to take control.

Clearly weakened by the event, Mr Wilkinson was spirited away in a wheelchair through a back entrance after leaving the memorial.

Heather Wilkinson, 66, was one of four people who ate beef Wellington at Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home in the state’s south-east on July 29.

The survival of Mr Wilkinson, who could hold the key to what happened at the deadly lunch, is being hailed as a miracle by more than just his parishioners in Korumburra.

Multiple sources have claimed Mr Wilkinson did not undergo a liver transplant after being taken to Melbourne’s Austin Hospital.

It remains unclear how he managed to avoid the severe toxic poisoning that claimed the lives of the other three, with speculation that he must have consumed only a small amount of the killer Wellington meat.

Victoria Police remain unclear on how they are handling their investigation into the deadly lunch.

The police command informed the media on September 8 that it would no longer answer any questions about the investigation.

“That being the case, we are not currently facilitating requests for interviews or a further press conference. We also will not release investigative or non-data information,” a spokesperson said.

Mrs Wilkinson died after lunch. Her husband Ian (pictured together) recently returned home after spending two months in hospital

In a statement to police, Ms Patterson said she made a beef stew using button mushrooms from a large supermarket and dried mushrooms bought from an Asian grocer.

Since his release from hospital, Wilkinson has beefed up security at his home in Korumburra, where he used to live with his wife.

Security cameras now monitor every entrance to his home, with frequent visitors checking on his well-being.

It remains unclear what specific security concerns Mr Wilkinson has. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting it is Erin Patterson.

Locals in the tight-knit community have grown increasingly hostile to endless intrusion by Melbourne’s media organisations.

Reporters continue to roam Korumburra and the neighboring town of Leongatha where Erin Patterson lives.

But the saga remains the talk of both towns, where locals continue to openly discuss their thoughts and theories on what happened.

Just weeks ago, a parish priest told the media that the town was desperate to learn the ‘truth’ of what had happened.

“Everyone in this community, even in the suburbs, has felt and prayed on their knees for his recovery and prayers are being answered,” the parish priest told 7NEWS.

“We all have questions, but we hope they will be answered.

“The truth will come out and then we will all be able to, in a sense, relax because then there will be some closure.”