Nationals MP and former deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has wound up in hospital after getting slightly too adventurous with a drink within the Pacific Islands.
The Riverina MP has been travelling via the Pacific as part of a bipartisan parliamentary delegation, with one event marked by the guests being provided sakau, a kind of Micronesian kava.
Sakau is supposed to be sipped somewhat than gulped, as its a lot stronger than different kinds of kava, that are supposed to be drunk of their entirety.
“Trouble is, I did stomach it!” Mr McCormack shared on Twitter.
“In a bid to show my respect to local traditions, I drank the whole bowl of Sakau.”
Mr McCormack was caught on video along with his head in his palms earlier than vomiting right into a bucket and being ferried off to hospital for medical therapy.
“They made it in front of us, squeezing the juice out of these massive tree roots, just absolutely squeezing it. It had a peppery essence and I was OK for 10 to 15 minutes and then I thought, ‘Ooooh, OK’,” he instructed the Guardian.
“I looked over at [the foreign Minister] Penny Wong and mouthed, ‘I’m not OK’. I went cross-eyed. I really did. Then someone got me a bucket and, well, yeah.”
A non-alcoholic drink, sakau and different kavas are well-known for his or her narcotic, sedative impact.
Mr McCormack was taken to hospital for therapy for dehydration and “slept for 14 hours” as he recovered.
“Feeling much better now and it’s been a great chance to connect with our Pacific family in FSM,” he stated.
