Kristian Trend, a 40-year-old wellness coach, died after taking part in a “detox” ceremony involving a substance known as Kambo at a private property in Clarendon Park, Leicester.
The incident happened on April 11 inside a residence where Trend had joined what family members described as a spiritual cleansing ritual. The practice involved Kambo, a secretion taken from the skin of the Amazonian giant leaf frog.
Emergency services were called after Trend became seriously unwell during the session. Paramedics treated him at the scene before rushing him to hospital, where he later died.
His family said he had been deeply drawn to spirituality and alternative healing methods in recent years. That shift reportedly came after he survived a severe battle with Burkitt lymphoma, a fast-moving form of blood cancer.
According to his mother, Angie Trend, he had spent around four months in hospital during his cancer fight and had narrowly survived. She described his recovery as a turning point that pushed him toward holistic practices.
Kambo, used in some traditional South American ceremonies, is applied through small burns on the skin during so-called purging rituals. Medical sources have linked it to serious complications including seizures, organ failure, and sudden cardiac events.
Authorities confirmed that a 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison following the incident. He has since been released while investigations continue.
Leicestershire Police said the circumstances of Trend’s death remain under review as further toxicology and medical results are awaited. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death.
Family members described Trend as outgoing, spiritual, and widely loved within his community. His funeral reportedly drew more than 200 people from different areas.
Angie Trend said her son believed the ritual would help him “cleanse” himself, a decision that now sits at the center of a painful investigation into what went wrong.
The case has also renewed attention on the use of unregulated alternative treatments in the UK, particularly those linked to extreme cleansing or spiritual healing practices.
