Mushroom lunch survivor speaks publicly for the first time since deadly meal

The sole survivor of a mushroom lunch has given a sermon to a church congregation in regional Victoria, his first since recovering from the deadly meal.

A survivor of a mushroom lunch that killed three people gave a sermon at Korumburra Baptist Church in regional Victoria. Source: AAP / JAMES ROSS/AAPIMAGE

The sole survivor of a deadly mushroom lunch that killed three people has spoken publicly for the first time, thanking God for never leaving him.

Ian Wilkinson, 70, gave his first sermon since his recovery from the deadly lunch to a congregation at Korumburra Baptist Church, in Victoria's South Gippsland region, on 11 February.

An emotional Wilkinson described the preceding week as being "pretty big", citing six months since the deaths of his wife and friends, his own 70th birthday and what would have been his 45th wedding anniversary.

"The ways are sometimes hard, but God is good. He's with us," Wilkinson told his congregation in footage published by the Herald Sun.

"He promised to never leave … and I can say, that is true."

Wilkinson spent almost two months in hospital critically ill from alleged poisoning following the lunch at Erin Patterson's Leongatha home on 29 July.

He was one of four people who fell ill after the lunch.

His wife Heather Wilkinson, 66, her sister Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, all died after the meal.

Erin Patterson was charged with three counts of murder over alleged poison mushroom deaths. Credit: Supplied

Erin Patterson, 49, was charged with three counts of murder in November.

She is also accused of attempting to murder Wilkinson.

Police will allege she attempted to murder her ex-husband Simon Patterson four times between November 2021 and July 2022.

Erin Patterson has denied any wrongdoing and is remanded in custody to appear in court on 3 May.