A WOMAN has died and two others are in hospital after allegedly consuming a poisonous mushroom drink in Australia.
Rachael Dixon, 53, became ill and went into cardiac arrest after “ingesting a drink” at a health retreat in Victoria.
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Emergency services rushed to the scene after she stopped breathing but couldn’t save her.
Dixon’s son and ex-husband both claimed that the drink contained mushrooms, according to 7NEWS.
He added that the drink had been prepared at the retreat and his mother quickly deteriorated after it was given to the group.
This has not yet been confirmed by the police.
Dixon’s son has also posted a heartbreaking tribute to his late mother on social media.
He wrote: “To the most loving, most caring person I’ve ever known, can’t thank you enough for everything you ever did for me and all the support you gave me.
“Words can’t begin to describe how much I will miss you, wish I could give you one last hug.”
Investigators are looking into a mushroom-based drink that she and two other women may have had at Soul Barn, an “Alternative & Holistic Health Service”, although they have not ruled out other potentially poisonous substances.
It is understood that police are also investigating whether Dixon died as a result of underlying medical conditions or due to any medication she may have been on.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia: “It is believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser Street when she became ill after ingesting a drink about 12pm.
“Investigations remain ongoing and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.”
The services offered at Soul Barn include facials advertised as being made with “wild foraged plants”.
The business announced it was closed on Sunday after Saturday’s horror incident.
There is no suggestion from police that Soul Barn was involved in the woman’s death or the hospitalisation of two others.
Last summer Victoria was rocked by an infamous mushroom poisoning case when Erin Patterson, 48, was suspected of killing her family.
She invited Gail and Don Patterson, her former in-laws, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian to her home in Leongatha, for lunch.
After eating the meal – which allegedly included poisonous mushrooms – the guests became violently ill and Gail, 70, Heather, 66, and Don, 70, later died.
Ian, a pastor, survived and gave his first sermon since the horrific tragedy in February.
He said: “Let me encourage you to keep on going.
“The way is sometimes hard, but God is good. He is with us.”
His nephew’s wife Erin was charged in November with three counts of murder.
She was also hit with five counts of attempted murder – reportedly including on her then husband’s life.
Saturday’s tragedy comes just weeks after a health department warning told people to look out for notorious death cap mushrooms.
They said yellow-staining mushrooms are also deadly, and very hard to distinguish from safe shop-bought ones.
Dr Evelyn Wong, chief health officer, said just one death cap mushroom is enough to kill an adult.
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