North Coast ‘shaman’ Lore Solaris sets up GoFundMe for Brazil trip after inquest into Kambo death of Jarrad Antonovich

A northern NSW “shaman” who an inquest was told sang and played guitar as a man lay dying in a frog toxin ceremony is fundraising for a Brazil trip as findings are up in the air.

Soulore ‘Lore’ Solaris. Picture: Facebook.

A “shaman” who allegedly sang and played guitar while a man died after ingesting frog poison at a “kambo” ceremony is fundraising for a trip to Brazil – while inquest results are pending.

North Coast man Soulore ‘Lore’ Solaris has a GoFundMe seeking $50,000.

Mr Solaris is seeking cash from “followers” to visit his “spiritual family” in Brazil, he states.

He ran the ceremony which a Coronial inquest at Lismore heard occurred before the death of Jarrad Antonovich, 46, at Arcoora Arts & Eco Retreat near Kyogle about two years ago.

It was heard during the inquest earlier this year that Mr Antonovich suffered massive swelling – “frog face” – and died at the Dreaming Arts psychedelic drug gathering.

Mr Antonovich lived with a brain injury after a car crash about two decades earlier.

As the probe into the death continues, the Health Care Complaints Commission has made an interim prohibition order preventing Mr Solaris from providing health services to the public.

Lismore man Jarrad Antonovich.

The inquest heard kambo frog secretions and the drug ayahuasca – a plant-based hallucinogenic – were used at the retreat on October 16, 2021.

Lismore’s Mr Antonovich suffered a painful and protracted death from a perforated oesophagus, with a 4cm hole in his throat.

He moaned in agony for about 12 hours before an ambulance was called, the inquest heard.

Kambo Amazonian frog poison. Picture: iStock

Witnesses said Mr Antonovich “looked like a frog” and his face and neck were so swollen they thought he was going to “explode”.

Mr Antonovich laid in the entrance of a ceremonial hall while Mr Solaris allegedly strummed on a guitar as bystanders provided medical aid, a witness told the inquest.

The inquest heard two supposed “shamans” – Mr Solaris and Laara Cooper – had an “inner circle” of followers who would make the ayahuasca in “concrete buckets”.

Laara Cooper outside Lismore Courthouse during the inquest.

It also heard Ms Cooper told participants her “medicine was safe because she was pure and Lore was pure”, and not to trust other shamans in the area.

Ms Cooper recommended an ambulance be called for Mr Antonovich when she witnessed him deteriorating towards midnight.

But Mr Antonovich told concerned participants he did not want an ambulance and wanted to stay, multiple witnesses said.

It was alleged during the inquest by Mr Antonovich’s former lover Patrick Santucci that Mr Solaris told him the death was a “beautiful passing” – and “the koalas were making a special noise to the elders”.

Mr Solaris’ defence argued Mr Antonovich could have had a prior condition that had not been diagnosed and the drugs had nothing to do with his death.

It’s not suggested Mr Antonovich was deliberately left to die or anyone present knew he was dying.

Cameron Kite allegedly administered the kambo, the inquest heard.

Just five days after the Commission order was issued, Mr Solaris reached out for the financial backing following the closure of his retreats, which the inquest heard could cost thousands of dollars to attend.

As well as the Brazil trip, Mr Solaris is seeking money for legal fees and operational costs.

“Due to the cancellation of events on top of legal bills and other costs, we are asking the community to please make financial donations to support the survival of our work in Australia,” he states.

Soulore ‘Lore’ Solaris was the organiser of the retreat where Lismore man Jarrad Antonovich died after consuming kambo frog toxin and ayahuasca.

“Our spiritual work is currently under threat by government agencies and individuals who would like to see our spiritual work stop for a range of agendas.

“I am currently under legal instruction to remain silent regarding the false claims against myself and our sacred sacrament, out of respect for the legal process.

“However, I can tell you that we are going through the processes now to clear our name.”

Mr Solaris states he needs “a break and time to recover, and would dearly love to visit my teachers and elders and spiritual family in Brazil to recharge and return for the summer to continue this work”.

There has not been any charges laid in relation to Mr Antonovich’s death.

Coroners can make recommendations for charges to be laid after inquests.

Kambo Amazon frog poison applied to the body.

In the inquest, Mr Antonovich’s father Glen Antonovich said “something didn’t add up” and it “still doesn’t”.

Mr Solaris declined to answer questions about his fundraising or Brazil trip.

“I am not interested in supporting this kind of journalism, you are not trustworthy,” he said in response to questions.

“Beware my lawyers are examining all the gaslighting media for slander etc (sic) that case is already building.”

Other deaths have been linked to the Amazonian frog toxin – Mullumbimby woman Natasha Lechner died during a kambo ceremony in 2019.

Both ayahuasca and kambo are illegal in NSW, but kambo was permitted at the time of Ms Lechner’s death.