This is the first photo of a 10-year-old boy who survived a Christmas cake poisoning that killed three people.
Matheus Marques da Silva has spent the past week in intensive care after enjoying the festive treat baked by his great-aunt Zeli Dos Anjos, 61.
Within hours, the couple, along with four other family members, were taken to hospital with severe vomiting and shortness of breath.
Zeli’s sisters Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58, and Neuza Denize Dos Anjos later died, as did Matheus’ mother Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43.
On New Year’s Eve, the schoolboy was transferred from the intensive care unit of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes hospital in the southern Brazilian city of Torres to a pediatric ward.
The hospital is just a few minutes’ walk from his aunt Maida’s apartment, where the tragedy occurred and is now being investigated by local police.
Matheus was visited by relatives after he moved and they authorized the release of a photo of him with Maida’s husband, Jefferson, who was also treated at the hospital after eating the cake.
Relatives said that Maida was Matheus’ godmother and that he was particularly close to her, while Neuza was his grandmother.
This is the first photo of 10-year-old Matheus Marques da Silva who survived a Christmas cake poisoning that killed three people
In the photo: the Christmas cake that was consumed by the guests on December 23
A photo found on Zeli’s social media by MailOnline shows a similar white icing-covered fruitcake, topped with cherries, which she baked in 2021 and assembled with her husband Paulo (right, next to his wife) and other family members.
In a moving letter to his local priests Father Leonir Alves and Father Almo Kohler, which was also distributed by the family, Matheus asked “for prayers for himself and the rest of his family.”
Fr Leonir said: ‘Receiving a letter from a child who may not have fully understood what happened to him and his family is a demonstration of faith and hope.
‘At the beginning of this year, these are the words that drive us: faith and hope for better days.’
The letter was read out Monday evening during a church service in Torres for the victims.
It read: ‘Dear Father Leone and Father Almo, I would like to ask that my mother, godmother and grandmother rest in peace, that God welcome them and give them eternal life.
The graves of Tatiana Denize Silva dos Santos, 43 and Neuza Denise Silva dos Anjos, 65 at the Sao Vincente Cemetery in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Joao Silva Dos Anjos (left) was one of seven people who attended the traditional meal on December 23, with Zeli Dos Anjos, 61, regularly making the festive treat
Joao was married to Zeli’s sister Neuza (right), who died in the tragedy along with their daughter Tatiana
Zeli dos Anjos (photo) prepared the traditional festive treat ‘Bolo de Natal’ for a coffee afternoon with the whole family
‘I can’t be there because I’m in hospital, I would like you to pray for them and me. Thank you.’
A relative who attended the service told MailOnline: ‘It was a very moving experience for everyone and an opportunity for the family and the parish to come together and pray.’
Police are still investigating the exact circumstances of what happened on December 23 and there are reports that traces of ‘arsenic’ have been found in blood samples taken from the victims.
However, in a statement on Monday, forensic experts insisted there was “no official confirmation” that arsenic had been found and that testing was still ongoing.
Torres police chief Marcos Vinicius Muniz Veloso told MailOnline ‘all theories were investigated and nothing has been ruled out’.