Sham masseur Sean Connell named in public warning

Authorities have taken a drastic step against a Melbourne man’s bizarre ‘health’ service amid allegations he claimed to cure cancer.

A massage therapist who allegedly claimed he could cure cancer and motor neurone disease has been slammed by the health regulator.

Energy Wellness’ Sean Connell, who offered lymphatic drainage massages, was labelled a “serious” safety risk in a public warning by the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner Adjunct Professor Bernice Redley on Tuesday.

Prof Redley said the public warning against Connell — already banned from offering the service — was necessary to avoid “a serious risk to the life, health, safety or welfare of a person or public”.

Connell, who was based in South Belgrave and South Morang, had been under investigation since October 2021 after allegations he claimed he could cure cancer and motor neurone disease according to the commission.

He was also alleged to have promoted misinformation about Covid and vaccines, with the commissioner finding Connell had breached the general health services’ code of conduct.

It comes after the Commission issued a permanent ban against Connell earlier this month.

Speaking at the time of the ban, Prof Redley said the safety of Victorians was the regulator’s “No. 1 priority”.

“I have issued this permanent ban on Sean Connell as I believe (he) poses a serious risk to the health, safety and welfare of the Victorian public and should be prohibited from offering health services,” he said.

Prior to the public warning, Mr Connell had told the Herald Sun he would protest the ban.

“Everything I talk about has been medically and scientifically proven from medical textbooks,” he said.

“I have hundreds of very happy clients. The only way to remove toxins from the body is the lymphatic system.

“Inflammation is the cause of everything and once you remove that, the body can heal itself.”

Mr Connell claims he experienced the presence of the “Inexpressible One” during a “near-death” experience when he was almost run over.

Sean Connell with one of the ‘energy beds’ used in his treatments.

He says he was given a purpose to help people find their light and energy while specialising in lymphatic drainage massage.

Mr Connell has promoted “healing modalities” to aid more than 40 conditions ranging from arthritis and asthma, to cancer and carpal tunnel syndrome, to ulcerated intestines and ulcers.

Massages are combined with periods on an “energy bed” and feature pulsed electromagnetic frequency devices.

The prohibition order permanently bans him from providing any general health services in Victoria as the Commissioner feels that measures need to be taken to protect the public from serious risk to their health, safety or welfare.

The Commissioner said people seeking health treatments should make “informed decisions” when looking for a provider.

“That is why it is important for any person considering any general health service treatment to consider what can go wrong and what they have a right to expect from their health service provider so that they can make fully informed decisions,” Prof Redley said.

“Any person considering treatment should ask the provider about their qualifications and experience, any risks involved in the treatment and if they as providers of the service have insurance in the instance that something does go wrong.”