One dead, two hospitalised in Australia after suspected mushroom drink poisoning

People at the retreat were allegedly served a drink containing poisonous mushrooms.
People at the retreat were allegedly served a drink containing poisonous mushrooms. Photo credit: Getty Images (file)

A woman is dead and two others are in hospital after allegedly consuming a poisonous mushroom drink in Australia over the weekend. 

The group of people reportedly had the drink at a health retreat in Clunes, east Melbourne according to local media. 

The 53-year-old woman from Ringwood North became ill on Saturday, and died a short time later. 

An ambulance arrived in response to a call that someone was in cardiac arrest and not breathing. 

Police detectives and the coroner are investigating the death, and looking into whether a mushroom-based drink was consumed. 

However, they haven't ruled out other potentially toxic substances. 

The woman reportedly died at health retreat, Soul Barn, which is described as being an "alternative and holistic health service" business. 

It operates out of a property located 33 kilometres north of Ballarat. 

The business offers services including sound healing, beauty treatments and tarot readings. 

It comes after accused mushroom murderer Erin Patterson was arrested in November last year, and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

In July, Patterson cooked a beef Wellington pie to four guests, however it was later revealed the meal had been laced with death cap mushrooms.

Three of the guests later died in a Melbourne hospital after displaying symptoms linked to the poisonous mushrooms.

The victims include Erin's former in-laws: 70-year-olds Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's 66-year-old sister Heather Wilkinson.

Heather's husband Ian survived, after spending months recovering in hospital.