‘Anti-vax’ tarot card reader near Byron dies after Covid battle

An anti-vax tarot card reader has reportedly died from Covid complications after fighting for her life in hospital since Christmas.

Helen Dean, who also goes by Heeling Dean, spent a month in hospital before passing away on January 24 at the Tweed Hospital after a "major" cardiac arrest, local publication the Echo reported.

“She has been fighting for her life since Dec 25,” one friend wrote on Facebook, confirming she had been battling Covid complications. “RIP our darling.”

The post was one of dozens paying tribute to the clairvoyant.

Ms Dean, who also promotes her services as a psychic and energy healer as a Reiki Master, was based in Mullumbimby, about 20 minutes northwest of Byron Bay.

The area has trailed behind the rest of NSW in double vaccination rates, with around 86 per cent of Byron Shire residents having two doses compared to the NSW average of 94 per cent.

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Ms Dean, who was unvaccinated according to The Daily Telegraph, posted regularly on her Facebook page speaking out against vaccine mandates.

She had been on a ventilator since Christmas Day and was taken off life support on January 15, the publication reported.

In November, Ms Dean attended an anti-vaccine protest in Byron Bay. She also posted a selfie from the #reclaimtheline rally in Tweed Heads.

In one post she wrote: “Making people take the vaccination to keep their jobs or having to be double vaxxed to get hired… Is not free choice.”

Ms Dean wrote on her Facebook she respected those who had decided to get the vaccine and was pro-choice.

Dozens of friends have penned tributes for Ms Dean on her page, calling her an “angel” and a “beautiful soul”.

Columnist for the Echo, Mandy Nolan, penned a tribute piece for Ms Dean, describing her as "extraordinarily kind", "eccentric" and "generous-hearted".

"I write this as one of her vaccinated friends, who respected her choice, but dearly wished that perhaps she had made another," Ms Nolan wrote.

Covid deaths remain high despite 'promising signs'

The news of Ms Dean's death comes as daily Covid deaths remain high across Australia.

On Saturday, there were 18 deaths reported in NSW, 41 in Victoria and 21 in Queensland.

Case numbers and hospitalisations are plateauing and more health staff are back on the job, but tracking the spread of the virus in the community is still a challenge, NSW Health says.

Daily cases fell below 10,000 for both NSW and Victoria for the first time in weeks.

CEO of Victoria Health, Dr Sandro Demaio said recent figures were a heartening trajectory happening in the state.

"Our test positivity rate continues to come down (15%)," he tweeted on Friday.

"Alongside case numbers. This is a very promising sign. While not definitive, it suggests we have passed the peak and not missing further cases in the community. Combined, it’s a very heartening trajectory."

With AAP

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