• Ate highly poisonous "Devil Crab" during filming

• Warnings issued and health monitored for those close to her

A popular food content creator died after consuming a highly toxic species of crab while filming a video for social media.

Local reports say 51-year-old Emma Amit ate the poisonous “Devil Crab” before collapsing at her coastal home in Palawan province, Philippines, and passed away two days later.

Footage shows Emma with friends collecting shellfish and crabs from a mangrove forest near her home in Puerto Princesa on February 4. She is seen tasting a sea snail while cooking seafood in a large pot of coconut milk.

Her condition worsened dramatically the following day as potent neurotoxins entered her bloodstream. Neighbors reported she experienced convulsions while being taken to a local health center, and she was later rushed to a hospital in critical condition, her lips turning dark blue as she remained unconscious.

Despite treatment efforts, she was pronounced dead on February 6.

Authorities have since warned coastal residents to avoid eating unfamiliar seafood.

Laddy Gemang, head of Luzviminda village, said Emma’s death was baffling given her and her husband’s extensive fishing experience, noting they should have known the risks of consuming this highly poisonous crab.

Local teams investigated her home and found eight brightly colored shells of Devil Crabs among the trash. Gemang urged residents of Puerto Princesa to exercise extreme caution and avoid eating these dangerous creatures, which have claimed lives before. Authorities are also monitoring Emma’s friends for similar symptoms.

The “Devil Crab,” or toxic reef crab, is found in coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region. Its shell and flesh contain powerful neurotoxins, including tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which remain active even after hours of cooking. These crabs are typically reddish-brown or creamy with striking dark patches.