Retreat death: police examine whether mushrooms used in drink before woman died near Ballarat

A woman has died and two other people have been taken to hospital after police say they consumed a drink at a retreat near the regional Victorian city of Ballarat on the weekend.

A police spokesperson confirmed that Moorabool detectives were investigating the death of a woman in Clunes, west of Melbourne, on Sunday.

“It is believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser Street when she became ill after ingesting a drink just after 12am,” the spokesperson said.

“The 53-year-old Ringwood North woman died at the scene.

“Two other people were taken to hospital for observation.”

Officers were examining whether the drink contained mushrooms.

The retreat describes itself on social media as an alternative and holistic health service. It had no events listed for Saturday night, according to a newsletter and social media posts, but said in a Facebook post that a subsequent event had been cancelled.

The retreat’s owner has been contacted for comment.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed that paramedics responded to the incident and two people were transported by road ambulance to the Ballarat Base hospital.

Police had earlier said they believed woman became ill after consuming the drink on Saturday, but issued a clarification about the time on Tuesday afternoon.