A woman has died and two were taken to hospital in Victoria, Australia after ingesting a suspected ‘mushroom drink’ at a wellness retreat.
The Ringwood North woman, 53, fell ill in the early hours of Sunday morning in Clunes, near Ballarat, before going into cardiac arrest.
She died at the Fraser Street premises.
Two others were taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital for observation.
Detectives believe the woman, who has not been named, consumed a drink containing mushrooms but have not ruled out other substances.
The death allegedly occurred at the Soul Barn, an ‘alternative and holistic health service’ that offers ‘sound healing and workshops’, according to The Age.
The company’s website says: ‘At Soul Barn we provide a space where you can connect to the healing power within nature and find the path you wish to walk.’
According to its Facebook page, it hosts events out of a property on Fraser Street.
Soul Barn hosted an event with a trance medium on Friday evening.
A status posed Sunday said its sound healing session that day had been cancelled.
‘My deepest apologies,’ the statement said, adding: ‘Email with refund and details have been sent to all booked.’
Police said: ‘Moorabool crime investigation unit detectives are investigating the circumstances following the death of a woman in Clunes.
‘The 53-year-old Ringwood North woman died at the scene. Investigations remain ongoing and police will prepare a report for the coroner.’
The death comes after three people who attended a family lunch on July 29 died shortly afterwards of suspected mushroom poisoning.
Erin Patterson from Leongatha has been charged with three counts of murder and attempted murder. She has denied all wrongdoing.
State health officials reissued advice earlier this month urging people not to pick or consume wild mushrooms.
‘People should urgently attend an emergency department if they believe they’ve eaten a poisonous mushroom,’ the advice page says.
‘They should also take any remaining mushrooms with them for identification.’
Michelle Mullins, the owner of Soul Barn, has been approached for comment.
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