A 53-year-old mother and personal trainer has been identified as the victim of a suspected mushroom poisoning at a wellness retreat.
Rachael Dixon tragically lost her life after consuming mushrooms along with two others at the Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre in Clunes near Ballarat, Australia.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at the wellness center around midnight following reports of illness among the attendees.
Dixon passed away at the retreat early on Sunday morning, while paramedics promptly transported the other two individuals for treatment at the hospital, as reported by News.com.au.
According to a statement by a Victoria Police spokeswoman, the incident unfolded when "a woman was at a retreat on Fraser St when she became ill after ingesting a drink just after 12:00AM."
The spokeswoman added: "Investigations remain ongoing and police will prepare a report for the coroner."
Soul Barn is yet to speak out on the incident.
Dixon's son Matthew posted a poignant tribute on social media, expressing his grief. "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," he wrote.
"Words can’t begin to describe how much I will miss you, wish I could give you one last hug."
Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
Hailing from Ringwood North in Melbourne’s east, Dixon was a familiar face in the wellness community, and her sudden passing has sent shockwaves across the region.
Soul Barn, which offers a range of services from sound healing to venue hire and homestays, had previously advertised a "Slow Beauty Medicine" event over the weekend, promising a unique experience combining ritual skincare and Reiki to rejuvenate body and spirit.
This tragic incident comes in the wake of warnings issued by Victorian authorities earlier this month regarding the spread of poisonous mushrooms in the state.
"Unless you are an expert, do not pick and eat wild mushrooms in Victoria," cautioned acting Chief Health Officer Evelyn Wong. "There is no home test available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms."
Our thoughts are with Dixon's loved ones.
