'Our baby found a mushroom in our pot plant ... we almost lost him'

10-month-old Alfred had found a deadly mushroom in his parents' pot plant, and only survived because his dad found him walking around the house with half the mushroom still in his hand.

A couple has issued a warning to other parents about the potential dangers lurking in their house plants after their baby ended up in hospital.

Simone and Kenneth Ryle Thorsson’s 10-month-old son Alfred was rushed to the ICU after he ate a mushroom that had grown in a pot plant in their home in Denmark.

News.com.au reports mum Simone had noticed the tiny mushroom days earlier, but forgot to get rid of it before Alfred got his hands on it.

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Kenneth said he found Alfred walking around their house with a half-eaten mushroom in his hand, prompting him to scrape what was left of the mushroom out of Alfred’s mouth before calling the Poisons Information Centre.

They were told to go to hospital when Alfred started vomiting.

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Alfred spent 72 hours in hospital before being released "as good as new". Pictures: Supplied

"I'll never forget the look on her face"

As the family waited for an ambulance, Alfred was drifting in and out of consciousness.

‘I’ll never forget the look on her face,” Kenneth said, remembering his wife’s pained expression during the incident.

News.com.au reports Alfred had eaten a rare poisonous mushroom called Lepiota elaiophylla.

Doctor were forced to pump activated charcoal down Alfred’s throat in a bid to stop the poison from spreading.

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Simone and Kenneth are sharing their story to warn other parents to always check for mushrooms around the house. Picture: Supplied

"We assumed poisonous mushrooms would only grow in forests"

Forensic toxicologist Dr Michael Robertson told 7Life the mushroom Alfred ate had similar toxins to the Death Cap Mushroom.

“Gastrointestinal would come first (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea),” he said.

“(Then there would be) possibly kidney issues due to dehydration, then possibly a period of recovery followed by symptoms of liver toxicity/failure.”

News.com.au reports Alfred responded well to treatment, and was back to his normal self after 72 hours in hospital.

The Danish couple now want to raise awareness for other parents to check for mushrooms around their homes.

“Kenneth and I assumed that indoor is kind of like a safe space and that poisonous mushrooms would only live out in the nature and forests,” Simone said.

“So, a reminder to parents that they regularly look after mushrooms in their indoor plants.”

Originally published as 'Our baby found a mushroom in our pot plant ... we almost lost him'