Sole survivor of Erin Patterson’s fatal mushroom lunch appears in high spirits as he leads Good Friday service

The sole survivor of the deadly mushroom lunch served by accused triple murderer Erin Patterson appeared in good spirits as he led the Good Friday service at his local church.

Ian Wilkinson, 70, lost his wife Heather, 66, her sister, Gail Patterson, and brother-in-law, Don Patterson, both 70, as a result of a poison mushroom lunch served at Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home in the east of the country . Victoria last July 29.

In contrast to the emotional service he performed in February when he first resumed his role as pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church, Mr Wilkinson appeared cheerful.

“It’s a good day for Good Friday, (the church’s support) has been great. I wish you a nice day,” he told the congregation, according to the Herald Sun.

Erin Patterson’s estranged husband Simon, who was supposed to attend the fateful lunch but backed out at the last minute, was among the small congregation.

Mr Wilkinson was the sole survivor of a deadly mushroom luncheon held at Erin Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023. Pictured is Korumburra Baptist Church in eastern Victoria.

Mr Wilkinson only learned of the deaths of his dining companions when he woke from an induced coma several weeks after lunch.

When he returned to the pulpit in February, he tearfully spoke of how God had sustained him since “Heather, Gail and Don went to be with the Lord.”

“The road is sometimes difficult, but God is good and he is with us,” Mr. Wilkinson said as he hesitated and fought to hold back tears.

“He promised never to leave us or forsake us, and I can say that’s true.”

Mr Wilkinson revealed he would have celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary that week with his wife Heather, who died in hospital just days after lunch.

He reportedly told the congregation that it had been a “pretty big week.”

“At the beginning of the week it had been six months since Heather, Gail and Don had been with the Lord,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“And yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary, so it’s been a pretty big week, but I’m thankful for everything that God has given me, God has done through me.”

The pastor, who spent 25 years at the church, jokingly asked the congregation if they remembered a Bible teaching series that was “aborted” last year.

“Does anyone remember our series on Genesis that we started last year?” he asked.

‘Does anyone have vague memories of that? It was cut off dramatically halfway through Genesis chapter two.”

Ian Wilkinson is pictured with his wife Heather, who died a few days after the mushroom lunch

Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after serving her sentence. She is scheduled to appear in court on April 22

Ms Patterson, 49, will appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court via video link on April 22, where she will formally enter pleas to three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

She is accused of deliberately including poisonous mushrooms in a beef Wellington served at lunch.

Ms Patterson told police the mushrooms were mushrooms from a local supermarket chain and dried mushrooms, which she bought months earlier from an Asian grocer in the Mount Waverley area, but could not remember which.

Victoria Police spent 20 weeks preparing a case against Ms Patterson, who was arrested at her home on November 2.

She is currently behind bars at the Dame Phyllis Frost Center where sources say she needs protection from other inmates because of her alleged crime.