Jarrad Antonovich inquest: Details of horrific ‘kambo’ frog poison death revealed during Byron Bay probe

Talks were on to hold more northern NSW drug ceremonies despite the death of a man who suffered frog poison swelling so severe it looked like he’d been blown up with “a basketball pump”, an inquest heard.

Northern NSW “shaman” Lore Solaris. Picture: Facebook.

Talks were on to hold more Northern Rivers ayahuasca ceremonies, despite a Lismore man dying after taking the hallucinogenic drug with “kambo” frog poison. an inquest has heard.

Jarrad Antonovich, 46, died after consuming the poison and the ayahuasca at an event at the Dreaming Arts Festival near Kyogle on October 16, 2021.

An inquest held at Byron Bay and Lismore has been probing his death.

Earlier it was revealed there was a “church” of ayahuasca in the region and users gathered to pray.

Attendee Garth Brewin told the inquest on Friday he became concerned for Mr Antonovich when he heard laboured breathing and wheezing.

Jarrad Antonovich.

Mr Brewin said Mr Antonovich complained of “so much pain” when he breathed. The witness said it looked as if someone “got a basketball pump” and used it on Mr Antonovich.

He thought to himself “mate, this isn’t good”, Mr Brewin said.

He noticed Mr Solaris telling Mr Antonovich it would still be a good idea to attend the ayahuasca ceremony – but to only have a small amount, the inquest heard.

Mr Brewin said he thought “f--k” and believed medical attention was urgently needed.

Mr Brewin recalled about the drug being taken: “It was just a weird energy in the place, like everyone knew it was f--ked, what was going on”.

The frog poison is illegal in NSW.

He told the inquest Mr Solaris warned attendees they should keep the circumstances to themselves.

It was claimed by Mr Brewin the “shaman” said “something along the lines of ‘let’s protect our family, we don’t want to damage … (the) good work of ayahuasca”.

Mr Brewin said he heard talks about holding another ceremony after the death – and exclaimed to a friend ‘f--k that, are they f--king blind? – what a f--king joke”.

Psychedelic ‘church’ of bizarre drugs: ‘Guardian’ faces questions

Earlier: A North Coast psychedelic drug ceremony “guardian” has denied telling an attendee to “be quiet” when she later raised concerns about a Lismore man dying after taking Amazonian frog poison.

Jarrad Antonovich, 46, died after consuming the “kambo” poison and the hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca at an event at the Dreaming Arts Festival on October 16, 2021.

The six-day retreat was held at Arcoora near Kyogle in northern NSW.

On Thursday, an ongoing inquest at Byron Bay Local Court heard there was a “church” of ayahuasca in the Northern Rivers and users gathered to pray.

Laara Cooper acted as a “shaman”, the inquest has been told.

Ceremony “guardian” Pedro Cruz Rodrigues gave evidence on Friday over videolink about his recollection, as well as the role of Elissa McAuliffe – one of the directors of Arcoora.

The inquest has been told of two supposed “shamans” – Soulore ‘Lore’ Solaris and Laara Cooper.

Their “inner circle” of followers mixed ayahuasca in “concrete buckets”, the coronial inquest previously heard while at Lismore.

Mr Antonovich deteriorated and organisers at the retreat allegedly watched him suffer for almost 12 hours before an ambulance was called.

He “looked like a frog” due to swelling and his face and neck were so swollen some people thought he was going to “explode”, according to witnesses.

Mr Antonovich is not the person to die of illicit “kambo” in the Northern Rivers in recent years – Natasha Lechner lost her life at Mullumbimby in 2019, moments after applying the poison.

Natasha Lechner.

Dominique Vollaers, a “body worker” and one of the “guardians” said earlier she said “no to the CPR” when Mr Antonovich was struggling.

She said she stayed “holding the calm, the beauty”.

The inquest has heard Mr Solaris allegedly strummed on a guitar and sung as bystanders provided aid.

Mr Antonovich “left his body straight away after he fell”, she told the inquest.

He died as a result of a perforation or tear to his oesophagus – likely caused by vomiting induced by the consumption of the substances.

His former partner Patrick Santucci said Mr Solaris told him the death was a “beautiful passing” and “the koalas were making a special noise to the elders”.

Mr Solaris is at the inquest at Byron Bay.

Lore Solaris is alleged to have strummed on a guitar and sung while medical aid was provided to Mr Antonovich.

On Friday, Ms McAuliffe said there was a “verbal agreement with Lore Solaris” someone at the retreat would be training in first aid.

She told the inquest she felt “threatened” by Glen Antonovich – Mr Antonovich’s father – when they talked on the phone.

Counsel assisting the coroner Dr Peggy Dwyer asked if she could understand why the father felt frustrated there was no phone number on Arcoora’s website.

Ms McAuliffe agreed she could.

She also agreed it would have helped the dad if someone had reached out and offered a phone number so he could contact Arcoora after his son died.

Amazonian frog poison “kambo” applied to the body.

Mr Rodrigues told the inquest “shaman” Mr Solaris was the “leader of the retreat”.

Speaking at the probe about how the news of the death spread throughout the ayahuasca community, he said: “People like to gossip and create their own stories.”

The inquest continues at Byron Bay. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Dr Dwyer asked him if he had spoken to Bella Gardner, a woman who attended the festival, about remaining quiet.

“(Her memory is) you said to her ‘be quiet we are never going to speak of this again’,” Dr Dwyer told the inquest.

Mr Rodrigues said he did not say that.

No one has been charged. The inquest before State Coroner Magistrate O’Sullivan continues.

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