A man has died after attempting a fashionable “detox” treatment using a drug made from the poisonous skin of an Amazonian tree frog.

Kristian Trend, 40, is thought to be the first British victim of the drug known as Kambo, which is traditionally used in “purging” and fertility ceremonies in South America.

It is believed that Mr Trend, a wellbeing coach and cancer survivor, collapsed after taking part in a “cleansing” ceremony at a flat in Leicester last month.

The Amazonian treatment is made from the dried poisonous skin secretions of the giant leaf frog. It is banned from sale in several countries, including Brazil and Chile, but can be bought legally in the UK.

Its popularity is growing across Europe, where it is sold as a wellbeing aid that offers “a life-changing experience”.

Angie, Mr Trend’s mother, has told The Telegraph she wants the alternative medicine to be banned.

She said: “He was going to cleanse himself, that’s what he said to me. He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins. But I don’t know what happened.

“We haven’t had the test results back yet. I don’t know anything and I don’t even think I want to know what happened. It won’t bring him back.”

Mrs Trend added: “He recovered from Burkitt lymphoma cancer, which he nearly died from. That’s the worst part. He was in hospital for four months and got through that and for this to happen is just awful. It was his birthday the week after and I’d bought all these presents.”

Leicestershire Police were called to reports that a man had been “taken unwell” at a property in the city’s Clarendon Park area on April 11.

The force said he had been treated at the scene in Queens Road, but that he later died in hospital.

Shortly after the incident, a 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison and has since been released on bail.

Leicestershire Police said: “An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is continuing.”

Shopkeepers in the area, which has a number of alternative lifestyle shops and businesses, told The Telegraph how the emergency services had sealed off Queen Street when the alarm had been raised.

A café manager added: “The emergency services closed the road off and paramedics lifted the man out of the flat through a window. It was very upsetting.”

The use of Kambo has led to deaths in several countries and is classified as a prohibited poison in Australia.

Sometimes known as Sapo, it is not a licensed medicine in the UK and the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not regulate those who administer it as a treatment.

Home Office officials said they worked closely with health authorities and law enforcement to monitor substances that pose a risk to public health and urged anyone with concerns about the safety or legality of a substance to contact the relevant authorities.

A government spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Trend’s family and loved ones. Any substance that poses a risk to public health or safety will be kept under review.

“We urge individuals to exercise caution when considering alternative therapies and to be aware of the potential risks involved.”

The Leicestershire Coroner has been notified of Mr Trend’s death and is expected to open an inquest into the circumstances.

Cause of death has yet to be established and toxicology tests are understood to be ongoing.

Mr Trend – who had recently launched Feel Good Polys, a plant based energy drink which he described as an alternative to coffee – was working as a wellness coach until his suspected poisoning.

Two days before his death, he posted on Facebook: “A daily walk can transform your health! Focus on low-intensity cardio for endurance and abdominal definition. Consistency is key! Take that step towards your goals today!”

Paying tribute to him, Mrs Trend spoke of her son’s love of life and enthusiasm for healthy living.

“He was a lovely, bubbly, spiritual man. He loved partying and dancing. And he was very, very popular. More than 200 people came to his funeral from all over. I didn’t even know that side of him.”

Mr Trend was inspired to create his energy drink after being diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma in his early 20s.

He wrote on his Feel Good Polys website: “At 23, I was given up to six months to live without intensive treatment. A rare cancer diagnosis forced me to choose: live in fear, or surrender to a higher purpose.

“After much travelling through India and Asia immersed in holistic wellness and meditation, the path became clear. Amongst the temples of Ubud, Bali, the vision for Feel Good Polys was born.”

‘I hope they ban’ Kambo

Mr Trend’s family have launched a fundraising campaign in aid of the Loros hospice charity in Leicestershire, where his father Michael died, to honour both men.

They wrote: “For anyone who would like to make a donation in memory of Kristian … We would like to raise as much money as possible for such an amazing charity that meant the world to him and us as a family.

“Fly high big bro. We love you always, Mum, Kayla and Bligh.”

The family hope to sell the remaining stocks of the energy drink he produced to raise further funds for Loros.

Mrs Trend said: “He researched the drink for over a year. We’ve got all his stock and it’s a pity if I can’t sell it in his memory.”

She added that action needed to be taken to prevent future tragedies from the use of Kambo.

“I hope they ban it, but I’m not strong enough to fight for it,” she said. “My husband died six years ago at 62. I’m completely lost now.”

Following news of Mr Trend’s death, dozens of his friends and well-wishers posted tributes to him on social media.

Cathryn Clifton, from Market Harborough, wrote: “My amazing friend I miss you more than words can say. From your hilarious impressions to the way you could just make me laugh uncontrollably. You were a beautiful human being inside and out and I will miss you forever x”

Ben Richardson wrote: “I will never forget the summers we shared during and post college. So many memories and laughs. 90’s Hip Hop will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Nick Richards added: “Rest in peace Kristian. I only met you briefly here in Australia but you left a lasting impression. Thoughts with your family.”

What is Kambo?

Kambo originated as a folk medicine among some indigenous peoples in the Amazon basin before being adopted as an alternative “cleansing” or detox treatment in the West.

The substance is derived from the dried skin secretions of the giant leaf frog, known as the kambô in Portuguese.

A traditional practitioner will tie the frog to four sticks placed in the ground with its limbs stretched, causing the frog to become stressed enough to activate its defence mechanism and secrete a substance containing peptides from its skin.

After the secretions are obtained, the frog is released back into the wild and the secretions left to dry.

Kambo is traditionally administered in a ceremony by using a hot stick to create small superficial blisters, peeling the top layer of skin and applying the secretions of the giant leaf frog directly into the wounds.

In these ceremonies, women are traditionally burnt on their legs to promote fertility, with men burnt on their arms and chests to promote a successful hunt or virility.

Traditional practitioners claim that kambo aids fertility, cleanses the body and soul, increases strength, and brings good luck to hunts.

Use of the drug is growing in popularity in Britain and across Europe, with people using it for wellness and detox reasons.

Its adherents in the West are known to claim that Kambo helps with several illnesses or injuries, although there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective treatment.

Side effects can include tachycardia, hypotension, nausea, as well as vomiting and sometimes bowel movements.

More extreme side effects have included psychosis, kidney damage – including acute renal failure – damage to the pancreas and liver, and seizures, in some cases leading to death.

One common danger appears to be the practice of taking Kambo with large quantities of water, leading to severe electrolyte imbalance.

The use of Kambo spread to urban regions of Brazil but was banned from sale and marketing by the Brazilian authorities in 2004. Its import is illegal in Chile.

It became known outside of South America as an alternative therapy in the late 2010s.

In 2021, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) banned its use and classified it as a schedule-10 poison. It is listed in Australia in the category for “substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use”.

There have been a number of recorded deaths following the use of Kambo.

Medical literature reported in 2018 the case of a man in Italy with obesity and ventricular hypertrophy who died of cardiac arrhythmia while under the effects of Kambo.

In October 2021, Jarred Antonovich, an Australian, died at a festival in New South Wales from a perforated oesophagus suspected to be caused by excessive vomiting after being administered Kambo.

Native groups have warned against its use by non-indigenous practitioners. Joaquim Luz, a Yamanawa leader, has criticized internet sales and warned that using Kambo without the preparation or permission of indigenous peoples puts users at risk.