Woman Dies After Consuming Mushroom Drink at Victorian Wellness Retreat

A 53-year-old woman from Ringwood North, Victoria has died after consuming a drink suspected to contain toxic mushrooms at a wellness event held at the Soul Barn in Clunes, near Ballarat. Two other people who also consumed the drink fell ill and were hospitalized but have since been discharged.

The woman, identified as Rachael Dixon, a personal trainer and mother, passed away on Saturday night. Police are investigating whether the drink contained psychedelic 'magic mushrooms' or other potentially poisonous substances. The Soul Barn, which describes itself as an "Alternative Holistic Health Service," hosted the event but has not responded to requests for comment.

Dixon's son Matthew paid tribute to his mother on social media, describing her as the "most loving, most caring person" he had ever known. Her ex-husband, Jarrod, claimed the drink was prepared at the retreat and caused her to go into cardiac arrest.

Authorities are looking into whether Dixon had any underlying medical conditions or was taking medication that may have contributed to her death. Homicide detectives are not currently involved in the investigation.

Why this matters: This tragic incident highlights the dangers of consuming foraged mushrooms and the importance of exercising caution when attending alternative wellness events. It also raises questions about the regulation and oversight of such retreats and the need for public awareness about the risks associated with ingesting unknown substances.

The Department of Health had previously issued a public warning about the dangers of picking and eating wild mushrooms, particularly the deadly death cap and yellow-staining mushrooms. Toxicologist Dr. Jonathan Karro emphasized the extreme difficulty in differentiating between safe and dangerous mushroom varieties, advising against foraging unless one is a mycologist (mushroom expert).

The local community has expressed shock and devastation over the incident. Soul Barn remained closed on Tuesday as the investigation continues. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. This tragedy comes a year after another high-profile case of mushroom poisoning in Victoria, where Erin Patterson was charged with murder and attempted murder for allegedly serving guests poisonous mushrooms at a lunch.

Key Takeaways

• 53-year-old woman died after consuming suspected toxic mushroom drink at wellness event
• Two others hospitalized but later discharged; police investigating possible psychedelic mushrooms
• Victim's son and ex-husband paid tribute; authorities looking into underlying conditions
• Highlights dangers of foraging mushrooms and need for regulation of wellness retreats
• Incident follows another high-profile mushroom poisoning case in Victoria last year