A New South Wales coroner has heard that a woman who applied Amazonian frog toxins to another woman's skin before her death did not know how to call emergency services. Natasha Lechner, 39, died during a shamanic 'Kambo' ritual in Mullumbimby in 2019.
The ritual involved the mucus of the Phyllomedusa bicolor frog, which causes vomiting or purging when absorbed through the skin. Kambo was banned by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2021, but was easily obtainable online at the time.
Victoria Sinclair, the only other participant in the ceremony, told the inquest via video link from Bali that she and Lechner had known each other for five years. Lechner had previously used Kambo on Sinclair three or four times, but on the day of her death, Lechner was conducting the ceremony herself.
Sinclair described Lechner's reaction as quick and strong, including cramping in the womb and purging within 15 minutes. Lechner then said 'It's not good' before fainting. Sinclair performed CPR but did not have a phone or know the emergency number. An ambulance was called by a flatmate at 11:16am and arrived five minutes later.
Toxicologist Darren Roberts told the inquest that Lechner was focused on her health and saw Kambo as complementary to mainstream medicine. The inquest continues.
