'Shaman' lied about magic mushrooms before Adelaide fashion icon's death, inquest hears

A self-proclaimed 'shaman' repeatedly assured a woman that "everything was fine" in the hours before her cardiac arrest, only to later lie to paramedics about her use of magic mushrooms, an inquest has heard. The coronial inquest is examining the death of Adelaide fashion icon Carol Foord, 72, who died in June 2024 after receiving magic mushrooms as an alternative treatment. Counsel assisting the coroner, Greg Dudzinski, told the court that Ms. Foord was hesitant about traditional medical treatments for her motor neurone diagnosis and sought unconventional options. She was connected to Noah McKenna, who presented himself as a "shaman" but lacked any medical qualifications. McKenna allegedly told Ms. Foord that taking psilocybin would be a "beautiful experience" to help navigate her fears.

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everything was fine

During a healing session at her home on June 15, 2024, Ms. Foord spoke with friends by phone as her condition worsened. She reported having a "bad trip" and expressed a desire to die, but McKenna allegedly intervened with constant reassurances that she would be fine, despite not being a medical professional. Ms. Foord's partner, Con Ninos, found her "lifeless, white and not responding" shortly before 3 p.m. He was advised by McKenna to call an ambulance. Paramedics arrived four minutes later to find Ms. Foord had suffered a cardiac arrest and was not breathing.

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I want to die

A paramedic asked McKenna if Ms. Foord had consumed anything, to which he responded "no." Dudzinski stated this was "obviously a lie" at a critical moment for life-saving treatment. Ms. Foord was revived and taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital, but was removed from life support that night due to a poor prognosis. Later, McKenna reportedly told Mr. Ninos over the phone that he had given Ms. Foord magic mushrooms, information that was eventually relayed to medical staff. The inquest will investigate the delay in providing this crucial information.

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This was a constant theme through Ms. Foord's decline that day. Mr. McKenna, who was not a medical professional, reassuring Ms. Foord and those around her that everything was fine, when he was not qualified to make any sort of medical assessment.