A British wellness coach has tragically died after reportedly participating in a cleansing ceremony that involved alternative medicine derived from the poisonous skin of an Amazonian tree frog. Kristian Trend, aged 40, is believed to be the first British victim of the substance known as Kambo, which is prohibited for sale in several countries but remains legally available in the United Kingdom.
Mother Calls for Ban
Angie, Kristian's mother, has expressed her desire for the treatment to be outlawed following her son's death. Speaking to The Telegraph, she revealed that Mr Trend, a cancer survivor, collapsed after taking part in a ritual at a flat in Leicester last month. "He was going to cleanse himself, that's what he said to me. He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins. But I don't know what happened," she stated.
Angie added, "We haven't had the test results back yet. I don't know anything and I don't even think I want to know what happened. It won't bring him back." She recounted her son's battle with Burkitt lymphoma cancer, from which he nearly died. "He was in hospital for four months and got through that and for this to happen is just awful. It was his birthday the week after and I'd bought all these presents."
Details of the Ceremony
Kambo is harvested from the defensive skin secretions of the Amazonian giant monkey tree frog. The ceremony involves burning or scraping the participant's skin and rubbing the Kambo into the wound. The substance was banned in Australia following rare deaths during such ceremonies.
Mr Trend, a wellness coach, had launched a plant-based coffee alternative before his death and shared health tips on his Instagram account, "Kristian The Feel Good Guy." His mother described him as a "lovely, bubbly, spiritual man" who loved partying and dancing. Over 200 people attended his funeral from across the country.
Family's Tribute
The Trend family has launched a fundraising campaign for the Loros hospice charity in Leicestershire. They wrote, "For anyone who would like to make a donation in memory of Kristian ... We would like to raise as much money as possible for such an amazing charity that meant the world to him and us as a family. Fly high big bro. We love you always, Mum, Kayla and Bligh."
