The owner of an alternative health clinic claims a private event was being held at the venue when a woman died from suspected mushroom poisoning.
Soul Barn owner and founder Michelle Mullins issued a statement Tuesday to refute speculation that she ran the clinic in which Rachael Dixon fell ill and died.
“There are no words to express the deep sadness and shock we feel here at Soul following the tragic incident that occurred on April 13,” the statement said.
Soul Barn owner Michelle Mullins (pictured) previously said she dreamed of Soul Barn being “a space where people can connect on many levels.”
‘Soul Barn rents out workshop space to external companies and facilitators. The event that took place on April 13 was a private event and those facilitating the event do not work for or represent Soul Barn in any way.
“None of our regular therapists, staff or facilitators were present at any time during this event.”
Rachael Dixon, 53, became seriously ill and later died of a suspected heart attack after drinking a mushroom tonic at Soul Barn in Clunes, near Ballarat, western Victoria, about noon on Saturday night.
Ms Mullins said she and her staff were all traumatized by what had happened at her business.
“We share the shock and devastation of all involved and our thoughts are with the families affected,” it said.
“We have no further information to share and we ask that you respect the privacy of our small community.”
The tragedy unfolded after ‘intuitive facialist’ Jude Darmanin was previously scheduled to conduct a skincare session with ‘wild plants’ at Soul Barn.
But on Tuesday she also broke her silence to insist she was not involved in the heartbreaking death later that evening.
There is no evidence that the suspected poisoning was intentional or that Ms Darmanin was part of the events leading to Ms Dixon’s death.
‘Intuitive facial’ Jude Darmanin (pictured) was said to provide ‘bred’ skincare at a wellness center on the same day a woman died at the center
Ms Darmanin said in an online post (pictured) that she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news of Rachael Dixon’s death
“(The specialist) weaves together age-old skin care rituals and combines them with modern techniques to create nourishing yet active facial treatments,” Soul Barn advertised.
‘Using infused herbal oils sourced from local farms and wild-grown plants, plus handcrafted skin care from around the world, specially chosen for its potency and purity.
‘This is a facial like no other, one you will never forget!’
On Tuesday evening, Ms Darmanin said she was “deeply saddened by the tragic event that took place at Soul Barn”.
“I don’t know more than what was reported in the news as I wasn’t there,” she said.
She then apologized to customers whose Sunday appointments were canceled and promised to reschedule them quickly.
Ms. Dixon and two other Soul Barn customers were rushed from the wellness center to hospital after the possible poisoning.
Police will investigate, among other things, whether the trio drank a drink containing ‘magic’ mushrooms, which contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin.
It is currently mushroom season in southern Australia and Clunes, located about 30 kilometers north of Ballarat, is surrounded by forests.
It is often difficult to tell the difference between edible and deadly mushrooms.
Poisonous galerina mushrooms can often be mistaken for the psilocybin-like ‘magic’ mushrooms, with potentially fatal consequences, and the pair often grow near each other.
It is believed Ms Dixon (pictured) died around midnight on Saturday after drinking a poisonous mushroom tonic
Soul Barn (photo) remained closed on Tuesday after the death of the 53-year-old mother
Just two weeks before Ms Dixon’s death, Victoria’s Department of Health had also warned that the incredibly poisonous death cap and yellow-spotted mushrooms were beginning to appear across the state.
It was advised that ‘consuming just one (death cap) mushroom can kill an adult’, while yellow-coloured mushrooms are ‘very similar to normally purchased mushrooms’.
“Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is at risk of possible poisoning and serious illness,” the report said.
“Cooking, peeling or drying these mushrooms does not remove or inactivate the poison.”
Two other people hospitalized after the Soul Barn incident were released Tuesday.
Mrs Dixon’s heartbroken son Matthew shared his grief on Sunday, writing: ‘To the most loving, most caring person I have ever known, I cannot thank you enough for everything you have ever done for me and all the support you have you gave me.
“Words can’t describe how much I will miss you, I wish I could give you one last hug.”
It is understood police will also investigate whether other toxic substances were responsible for Ms Dixon’s death.
Soul Barn extended its ‘deepest condolences’ to Ms Dixon’s loved ones on Sunday and advised that a ‘soul healing’ session had been cancelled.
The business remained closed Tuesday as local business owners and residents said the incident was “confronting” and “devastating.”
Just two weeks ago, Clunes (pictured) was shocked by the death of 23-year-old Hannah McGuire, who was found dead in a burning car
Daily Mail Australia contacted Soul Barn owner Michelle Mullins for comment.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Ms Mullins or anyone associated with her business deliberately poisoned people.
Ms. Mullins previously said she dreamed that Soul Barn would be “a space where people can connect on many levels.
“Organizing inspiring workshops and retreats that connect you to your own passions, enable you to discover new skills and encourage you to express yourself authentically,” she said.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that detectives from the Mearabool Crime Investigation Unit detectives were investigating the death.
“It is believed a woman was at a Fraser Street retreat when she became ill after ingesting a drink at around 12pm,” she said in a statement.
‘The investigation is ongoing and police will prepare a report for the coroner.’
The death came a year after another high-profile case of mushroom poisoning in Victoria.
Erin Patterson from Leongatha, in the Gippsland region of eastern Victoria, was charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder in November.
She is accused of serving her ex-husband’s relatives a Beef Wellington loaded with poisonous mushrooms.
This weekend’s tragedy was also the second to hit the town of Clunes in recent weeks, following the death of 23-year-old Hannah McGuire.
Ms Dixon and two other Soul Barn clients (pictured) were rushed from the wellness center to hospital after possibly being poisoned
Ms McGuire’s body was discovered in a burning car near State Forest Road in Scarsdale.
It is alleged that her ex-boyfriend, Lachlan Young, murdered her and set her body on fire.
Police have asked anyone with information about the latest incident to come forward contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au