The 46-year-old died while attending a six-day wellness retreat after taking the powerful psychedelic drug ayahuasca, and a frog toxin called kambo. 9News
has held back tears while describing the horror of hearing the retreat organiser's upbeat description of the fatal incident.Northern Rivers region in 2021 after taking the powerful psychedelic drug ayahuasca, and a frog toxin called kambo.
The use of ayahuasca and kambo is based on the traditional knowledge of indigenous South American communities, with adherents believing the substances can clean the body of impurities.Medical experts, however, say there is no proof the substances do more than make people extremely ill. Antonovich was 46 when he died on the night of October 16, 2021, while attending the six-day Dreaming Arts Festival in Collins Creek.After taking the substances, Antonovich's face and neck swelled to such a degree he "looked like a frog" and was struggling to breathe, witnesses said.
Fred Woller — a site manager for the off-grid Arcoora health retreat — gave evidence on Friday about the level of first aid available on site.
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