UK5 min(s) read
Published 09:02 26 May 2026 GMT
A wellness coach who survived a rare form of cancer is feared to have died after reportedly taking part in a ritual involving poison from an Amazonian tree frog.
Kristian Trend, 40, is believed to have used Kambo, a controversial substance derived from the toxic secretion of a giant monkey frog, during a 'cleansing' ceremony shortly before collapsing at his Leicester home last month.
The fatherless wellbeing entrepreneur, who had previously battled Burkitt lymphoma, is thought to potentially be the first Briton linked to a death involving the substance as its popularity grows across Europe.
Kambo has long been used in parts of South America in traditional spiritual and purification rituals.
The substance is created using dried secretions from the skin of the giant leaf frog and is often promoted in alternative wellness circles as a detox treatment.
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While the drug has been banned in countries including Australia, Brazil, and Chile, it remains legal in the UK and is not regulated as a licensed medicine.
Kristian’s mother, Angie, said the family is still waiting for toxicology results to confirm exactly what caused his death, but she is now urging authorities to crack down on alternative therapies she believes can be dangerous.
“He was going to cleanse himself, that’s what he said to me,” she told The Telegraph.
“He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins. But I don’t know what happened.”
She added: “We haven’t had the test results back yet. I don’t know anything and I don’t even think I want to know what happened. It won’t bring him back.”
Angie also spoke about the heartbreak of losing her son after he had previously overcome cancer.
“He recovered from Burkitt lymphoma cancer, which he nearly died from. That’s the worst part,” she said.
“He was in hospital for four months and got through that and for this to happen is just awful. It was his birthday the week after and I’d bought all these presents.”
Emergency services were called to a property in Leicester’s Clarendon Park area on April 11 following reports that a man had become seriously unwell.
Residents said police and paramedics rushed to the scene before cordoning off the street. Kristian was reportedly treated by medics at the property before later dying in hospital.
Police confirmed an investigation remains ongoing while toxicology tests are carried out.
A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison following the incident, but has since been released on bail.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is continuing.”
The UK government also issued a warning about the risks linked to unregulated alternative therapies.
A spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Trend’s family and loved ones. Any substance that poses a risk to public health or safety will be kept under review.
“We urge individuals to exercise caution when considering alternative therapies and to be aware of the potential risks involved.”
Before his death, Kristian had been working as a wellness coach and had recently launched a plant-based energy drink brand called Feel Good Polys.
On the company’s website, he reflected on his cancer diagnosis and his spiritual journey.
“At 23, I was given up to six months to live without intensive treatment,” he wrote.
“A rare cancer diagnosis forced me to choose: live in fear, or surrender to a higher purpose.”
He explained that after travelling across India and Asia and exploring meditation and holistic wellness, he eventually came up with the idea for the business while staying in Bali.
“No jitters. No crashes. Just life, fully lived,” he wrote.
Friends and loved ones have since paid tribute to Kristian, describing him as warm, energetic and deeply spiritual.
His mother said: “He was a lovely, bubbly, spiritual man. He loved partying and dancing.
“And he was very, very popular. More than 200 people came to his funeral from all over. I didn’t even know that side of him.”
Kristian’s family have since launched a fundraiser in support of the Loros hospice charity in Leicestershire, where his father Michael received care before his death six years ago.
Speaking about Kambo, Angie said: “I hope they ban it, but I’m not strong enough to fight for it.
“My husband died six years ago at 62. I’m completely lost now.”
Kambo originates from indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest, where it has traditionally been used in ceremonial practices.
During the ritual, practitioners collect secretions released by the frog when it is stressed. The substance is then dried and later applied to small burns made on the skin.
Supporters claim the treatment can help with physical and mental health issues, despite limited scientific evidence supporting those claims.
Medical experts have warned that side effects can include severe vomiting, dehydration, psychosis, kidney failure and, in some cases, death.
In 2021, Australian man Jarrad Antonovich died after reportedly suffering a tear in his oesophagus linked to extreme vomiting following a Kambo ceremony at a festival in New South Wales.
