Three members of the same family have been left in a 'vegetative state' and may be paralysed for life after eating contaminated wild boar they shot on a hunting trip.

The family from Putaruru, on New Zealand's North Island are in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital.

Paramedics found Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, and his mother Alekutty Daniel, 62, lying unconscious in their home on Friday night after Mr Kochummen fainted while calling an ambulance.

Paramedics found Shibu Kochummen (left), his wife Subi Babu (centre) and his mother Alekutty Daniel (right) lying unconscious in their home on Friday

Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, pictured with their seven year old daughter

The family, who moved from Kerala in India to New Zealand five years ago, have two children aged seven and one.

Miraculously the meat was the only item of food the young children did not eat during the meal.

Suffering from what is expected to be a severe case of food poisoning, the trio are lying in hospital in an unresponsive state.

Friend and member of local church group Hamilton Marthoma Church Joji Varghese said it was believed the family were poisoned after eating a wild boar they had caught on a hunting trip.

'They have been diagnosed with food poisoning, after having consumed contaminated wild boar,' he said.

'Though they exhibit periods of intermittent consciousness, they are for all practical purposes, unresponsive and in a vegetative state.'

The family, who moved from Kerala in India to New Zealand five years ago, have two children aged seven (pictured) and one

Mr Varghese told Daily Mail Australia that within 30 minutes of eating the meat the family started vomiting.

'Shibu's mother started vomiting and then collapsed. Shibu called an ambulance but fainted half way through the call.

'When paramedics arrived they found three people collapsed on the floor and two children in bed sleeping.'

Luckily the family's young children did not eat the meat, which has now been taken for testing.

Three members of the same family have been left in a 'vegetative state' and may be paralysed for life after eating contaminated wild boar they shot on a hunting trip (stock image)

'It was just something they had decided to have for dinner… they put the kids to bed before they cooked the meat,' Mr Varghese said.

Mr Varghese told Daily Mail Australia Mr Kochummen was a 'keen outdoorsman' who went hunting with friends about once a month.

He went hunting with a group of friends locally in Putaruru on Friday when they caught the boar.

He said it wasn't the first time the family had eaten wild boar.

'We've shared boar on a number of occasions,' Mr Varghese said.

The family's young children are being looked after by the church group.

Findings from a toxicology report are expected on Friday.