Police probe mushroom link after health retreat death

A woman has died and two more people are in hospital after consuming a drink at a retreat in regional Victoria. The death of the 53-year-old at the wellness centre in the town of Clunes is being probed by detectives from the Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit. Officers are examining whether the drink contained mushrooms. Victoria Police were called about midnight Sunday and believe the Ringwood North woman became ill after ingesting a drink. The investigation is open and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics were called to the Clunes property at 11.55pm on Saturday and took two other people to Ballarat Base Hospital. The retreat describes itself on social media as an alternative and holistic health service. It advertises multiple services, including facials using "wild foraged plants". On Friday night, the retreat hosted an event with a medium where guests were given a chance to "ask questions of the spirit communicators". A planned event described as "sound healing" was cancelled on Sunday. AAP has contacted the owner of the retreat for comment. Clunes is about 30km from Ballarat, which has experienced a series of tragic events in 2024. Three local women, Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire, have died allegedly at the hands of men in the past two months. Miner Kurt Hourigan died in a mine collapse in March and the area experienced bushfires over summer. Less than a year ago, three people died and another was hospitalised for months after allegedly consuming poisonous mushrooms in eastern Victoria. Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died after eating a meal at the home of Erin Patterson in Leongatha in July 2023. Ms Wilkinson's husband Ian, who was also at the lunch, spent close to two months in hospital. Erin Patterson, a mother of two, has been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.