Homicide detectives investigate death of man who consumed frog toxins and ayahuasca at NSW spiritual retreat

Jarrad Antonovich died after consuming ‘kambo’ – derived from frog toxins – and ayahuasca at a retreat in the northern rivers of NSW. Photograph: Supplied

Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man who consumed a cocktail of Amazonian “medicines” at a spiritual retreat in northern New South Wales three years ago.

Forensic officers were also involved in a raid late last week on the property up a steep rainforest track in Collins Creek, near Kyogle, where 46-year-old Jarrad Antonovich died on the night of October 2021 while participating in a ceremony involving the psychoactive brew ayahuasca and while still in the agonised throes of a “kambo” ritual in which frog toxins had been applied to shallow burns in his skin.