A 40-year-old man has reportedly died after undergoing a “detox” treatment involving Kambo, a substance made from the poisonous secretion of an Amazonian tree frog.
According to reports, officers from the Leicestershire Police responded to an emergency call on April 11 after the man, identified as Kristian Trend, became seriously unwell at a property in Clarendon Park. He was treated at the scene before being taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Speaking to The Telegraph, his mother, Angie Trend, said her son had planned to take part in a spiritual cleansing ceremony.
“He was going to cleanse himself, that’s what he said to me,” she said. “He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins. But I don’t know what happened.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, Kambo is a secretion obtained from the giant leaf frog and is commonly used in traditional South American purging rituals. Health experts warn that the substance has been associated with severe complications, including seizures, liver failure, heart attacks and, in some cases, sudden cardiac death.
The deceased’s family is still awaiting official test results to determine the exact cause of death.
Before the incident, Trend had reportedly survived Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of blood cancer. His mother said the health battle later inspired his interest in holistic healing and spiritual wellness practices.
