A self-storage auction winner was hospitalized this week after drinking what he believed to be whiskey at a Fall River, Mass., facility. The antique bottle of what turned out to be rat poison was in the storage unit he purchased. Firefighters responded to the site on Tuesday evening after the unidentified man complained of burning on his hands and in his throat.

The man told authorities the bottles were believed to be at least 60 years old and likely contained whiskey. The one he opened actually contained strychnine, which is used as rat poison, according to Fall River Fire Capt. Neil Furtado. The victim is expected to recover.

The self-storage facility was closed for several hours while a hazardous-materials team tested the other bottles, some of which contained acid, authorities said.

The name and location of the storage facility have not been released at this time.

Source:
Lowell Sun, Man Hospitalized After Thinking Rat Poison Was Whiskey