Briton dies after attempting ‘fashionable’ frog poison detox

A 40-year-old wellness coach has become the first British person to have died after attempting a trending detoxification ritual involving secretions from a poisonous Amazonian frog.

Kristian Trend, who had previously beaten cancer, collapsed during a "cleansing" ceremony at a Leicester property on April 11.

The substance, known as Kambo, is derived from the toxic skin of the giant leaf frog, and has gained popularity across Europe as an alternative therapy promising transformative health benefits.

Despite being prohibited in Australia, Brazil and Chile, the frog secretion remains legal to purchase and administer in the UK, where it is not classified as a licensed medicine.

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Mr Trend was treated by paramedics at the scene in the Clarendon Park area, but subsequently died in hospital.

His mother, Angie Trend, has spoken of her devastation and urged authorities to outlaw the substance.

"He was going to cleanse himself, that's what he said to me. He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins. But I don't know what happened," she told The Telegraph.

She said: "He recovered from Burkitt lymphoma cancer, which he nearly died from. That's the worst part. He was in hospital for four months and got through that and for this to happen is just awful," she said.

Kambo originates from indigenous communities in the Amazon basin, where it has been used for centuries in purging rituals and fertility ceremonies.

The substance is extracted by restraining the giant leaf frog until it becomes stressed enough to release defensive secretions containing peptides, which are then dried for later use.

Traditional administration involves burning small blisters into the skin and applying the dried secretion directly into the wounds.

Western practitioners market it as a wellness treatment claiming various health benefits, though no scientific evidence supports these assertions.

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Potential side effects range from rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure and vomiting, to more severe reactions including kidney failure, liver damage, seizures and psychosis.

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration classified Kambo as a schedule-10 poison in 2021, placing it in a category reserved for substances deemed too dangerous for any sale or use.

Leicestershire Police were alerted to reports of a man becoming unwell at a Queens Road property on April 11.

A 41-year-old man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of administering poison, and released on bail while investigations continue.

A Government spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Mr Trend's family and loved ones. Any substance that poses a risk to public health or safety will be kept under review."

The Leicestershire Coroner has been informed and an inquest is expected, with toxicology results still awaited.

Mr Trend's journey into wellness began after receiving a devastating diagnosis at 23, when doctors told him he had just six months to live without intensive treatment for Burkitt lymphoma.

Following his recovery, he travelled extensively through India and Asia, immersing himself in holistic practices before launching his plant-based energy drink, Feel Good Polys.

Just 48 hours before his death, he posted on Facebook encouraging followers to embrace daily walks for better health.

More than 200 mourners attended his funeral, with friends describing him as a "beautiful human being" who left lasting impressions on everyone he met.

His family has established a fundraising campaign for Loros hospice in Leicestershire, where his father Michael died, and hopes to sell remaining stock of his energy drink to support the charity.

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