British Woman Dies After Psychedelic Tea at Bolivian Retreat

Maureen Rainford, 54, suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after drinking ayahuasca tea during a wellness retreat in the Amazon rainforest.

Maureen Rainford, a mother of three from Romford, Essex, died during a 10-day retreat at the Ayahuasca and San Pedro Pisatahua Retreat in Bolivia.
Witnesses reported that she began feeling unwell within 10 minutes of consuming ayahuasca tea, experiencing a drop in heart and breathing rates before collapsing.
Despite staff efforts to resuscitate her, she died approximately an hour later, before a doctor could arrive; a post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack.
Rainford's daughter, Rochel, has called for better safety measures at such retreats, including the presence of trained medical personnel for emergencies.
Ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic used traditionally in South American spiritual ceremonies, has gained popularity among Western tourists but remains a Class A drug in the UK.