New age health centre boss breaks silence after mushroom poisoning

The owner of an alternative health clinic has revealed a private event was being held at the venue when a woman died from a suspected mushroom poisoning.

Soul Barn owner and founder Michelle Mullins issued a statement on Wednesday to refute speculation she had been conducting the clinic when Rachael Dixon fell ill and died. 

‘There are no words to express the deep sorrow and shock we are feeling here at Soul following the tragic incident that occurred on April 13th,’ its statement read. 

Owner of Soul Barn, Michelle Mullins (pictured) previously said she dreamed of Soul Barn being ‘a space where people can connect on many levels

A statement issued by Soul Barn on Wednesday afternoon

‘Soul Barn hires out workshop space to external businesses and facilitators. 

‘The event which took place on April 13th 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 point during this event.’

Rachael Dixon, 53, became critically ill and later died from a suspected heart attack after allegedly drinking a mushroom tonic at Soul Barn in Clunes, near Ballarat, western Victoria, about 12am on Saturday night. 

Ms Mullins said she and her staff had all been traumatised by what had happened at her business. 

‘We share the shock and devastation of everyone involved and our hearts are with those families affected,’ it read.

‘We have no further information to share and we ask you to please respect the privacy of our small community.’

It can further be revealed Ms Dixon was herself a health practitioner who had lived in New Zealand before settling in Melbourne and raising her son. 

Ms Dixon’s sister Penny Muller-Dixon said ‘words cannot express the heartbreak we are all feeling’.

‘Matthew your NZ family love you, we will see you soon. Life is so f*n short please hug and love those around you,’ she posted on social media.

‘Intuitive facialist’ Jude Darmanin (pictured) was scheduled to provide ‘foraged’ skincare at a wellness facility the same day a woman died at the centre

Ms Darmanin said in an online post (pictured) that she was ‘deeply saddened’ by news of Rachael Dixon’s death

The tragedy unfolded after ‘intuitive facialist’ Jude Darmanin had earlier been scheduled to provide a skincare session using ‘wild foraged plants’ at Soul Barn.

But on Wednesday she too broke her silence to stress she had no involvement in the heartbreaking death later that night.

There is no suggestion the suspected poisoning was intentional or that Ms Darmanin was part of the events leading up to Ms Dixon’s death.

‘(The specialist) weaves ancient skincare rituals and VeeloBooster Recensioner combines them with modern techniques to create nurturing yet active facials,’ Soul Barn advertised.

‘Using infused herbal oils sourced from local farms and wild foraged plants, plus handcrafted skincare from around the world especially chosen for its potency and purity.

‘This is a facial like none other, one you will never forget!’ 

On Wednesday, Ms Darmanin said she was ‘deeply saddened by the tragic event that occurred at Soul Barn’.

‘I don’t know any more than what was reported in the news as I was not present,’ she said.

She then apologised to customers whose appointments on Sunday were cancelled and promised to reschedule them soon.

Ms Dixon and two other Soul Barn customers were rushed from the wellness centre to hospital after the possible poisoning.

One line of inquiry police will investigate is whether the trio consumed a drink with ‘magic’ mushrooms, which contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin.

It is currently mushroom season in Australia’s south and Clunes, located some 30km north of Ballarat, is surrounding by forests.

It’s often difficult to distinguish the difference between edible and lethal mushrooms.

Poisonous galerina mushrooms can often be mistaken for the lookalike psilocybin ‘magic’ mushrooms, with potentially lethal consequences, and the pair often grow nearby each other.

it’s believed Ms Dixon (pictured) died after drinking a poisonous mushroom tonic about midnight on Saturday

Soul Barn (pictured) remained closed on Wednesday following the 53-year-old mother’s death