Authorities have charged Soulore Solaris, a 52-year-old psychedelic retreat centre operator formerly known as Peter George McIntyre, with manslaughter in the death of 46-year-old Jarrad Antonovich.
The incident unfolded on Oct. 16, 2021, at the “Arcoora” retreat Solaris ran in Collins Creek, New South Wales, Australia. It took place during the Dreaming Arts Festival event held at the retreat centre: a week-long spiritual-centred getaway where traditional medicines were employed.
At the festival, Solaris presided over a ceremonial ritual where participants consumed ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic brew, and kambo, a toxic secretion from the Amazonian giant tree frog.
Ayahuasca is an orally-administered liquid concoction containing the powerful psychedelic compound dimethyltryptamine (DMT). It has a long history of usage among Indigenous cultures, dating back thousands of years. Kambo, on the other hand, is applied by burning the recipient’s bicep with a series of small dots to allow the frog venom to enter their bloodstream. It is utilized for its cleansing capabilities, causing the user to vomit profusely.
During the retreat, Antonovich ingested both substances, collapsed, and suffered a perforated esophagus from severe vomiting. This rare health emergency ultimately cost him his life.
Police allege Solaris provided the ayahuasca and delayed calling for medical help, contributing to Antonovich’s death at the scene despite paramedics’ efforts.
In Australia, kambo was classified as a banned Schedule 10 poison just two weeks prior. Ayahuasca was outlawed in the country the following year after Antonovich’s passing.
Solaris’s retreat promoted traditional South American practices for detoxification, though experts warn of unproven benefits and risks.
Arrested on Mar. 5 in Coorabell, Solaris secured bail with strict conditions, including adhering to a AUD$20,000 security agreement, reporting to police three times a week and not leaving the country. He faces Lismore Local Court on Mar. 30 and has been banned from offering health services by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission.
Antonovich’s family has since been advocating for a crackdown on those hosting these types of ceremonies in Australia, saying that harsher penalties should be implemented to deter people from offering these substances.
This case echoes recent tragedies at psychedelic retreats. One such episode of note occured in June of 2025 when American tourist Aaron Castranova, 41, died from organ failure after ayahuasca at a Peruvian hostel.
A 2023 report from the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service tallied 58 ayahuasca-related deaths from 1994 to 2022. These unfortunate incidents highlight the risks many take in pursuit of mental and physical healing.
Read more: Nova Scotia man gets off easy after charges for importing psychedelic ayahuasca
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