Retreat death: police examine whether mushrooms used in drink before woman died near Ballarat

A woman has died and two other people have been taken to hospital after police say they consumed a drink at a retreat near the regional Victorian city of Ballarat on the weekend.

A police spokesperson confirmed that Moorabool detectives were investigating the death of a woman in Clunes, west of Melbourne, on Sunday.

“It is believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser Street when she became ill after ingesting a drink just after 12am,” the spokesperson said.

The retreat describes itself on social media as an alternative and holistic health service.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed that paramedics responded to the incident and two people were transported by road ambulance to the Ballarat Base hospital.

Police had earlier said they believed woman became ill after consuming the drink on Saturday, but issued a clarification about the time on Tuesday afternoon.