A ‘shamanic healer’ who died of an overdose during her 40th birthday party had spent more than 20 years climbing the corporate ladder before leaving it all behind to embark on her spiritual journey.
Danielle Whittaker was partying in a high-rise apartment on the Gold Coast with six close friends on Friday night when she suddenly went into cardiac arrest.
Police claim to have found a variety of drugs, including cannabis, ketamine and mushroom capsules, inside his room.
Ms Whittaker launched her Telecom career in New Zealand in 2009.
He already had two university degrees under his belt: a diploma in cooking and culinary arts from Victoria University of Wellington in 2002 and a bachelor’s degree in applied management from the Southern Institute of Technology in 2017.
Danielle Whittaker (pictured) spent more than 20 years climbing the corporate ladder before leaving her career for a life of “fun work” and spirituality.
After changing his life to move to Brisbane, he worked for a variety of companies, including spending several years at Telstra and CSG Print Services.
On her LinkedIn page she titled herself “the queen of sales.”
“I have two decades of experience in high-level sales roles in six cities, two countries and multiple organizations, dealing with people at all levels,” Ms. Whittaker wrote.
‘I have a great ability to build lasting relationships naturally; People buy from those they know, like and trust, and having a good reputation within a large network really makes selling much easier.’
He put those sales skills to use in 2014 by launching his own app, Fit Meet, which promised to connect users “based on their sport and location to find workout partners.”
In 2018 he left the company and in 2019 became sales manager for Toyota’s Central Queensland district.
Ms Whittaker then took on her longest job, a four-year role as external sales manager for Super Steel Australia.
She left the company in January and became an “employee.”
However, Ms Whittaker did not completely abandon her previous career and wrote extensively about her next book which would cover her knowledge of the corporate world and her sales experience.
Ms Whittaker died partying at a high-rise apartment on the Gold Coast (pictured) when she suddenly went into cardiac arrest.
‘Conscious Selling’ is also the working title of my first book, which will cover my two decades of sales knowledge, broken down step by step with all the tools and strategies you’ll need to get crystal clear on who your ideal client is, create a whole sales plan based on this and then how to actually implement it,” he wrote.
Ms. Whittaker also shared her experiences with her growing spirituality.
“The journey of self-discovery and even greater growth I have undertaken over the past few years has been simply outrageous,” he wrote.
‘And only now can I create a completely new offering that is very far from what I would have chosen, but that makes a lot of sense.
‘I have been developing my psychic and intuitive abilities further, quite intensely, by practicing tarot, oracles and, more recently, remembering how to read runes from some very old past lives. Shit has been wild to say the least.
“And there are certain things I can no longer ignore.”
Two of Whittaker’s friends were also rushed to the hospital for treatment after Friday’s overdose, and one remained in the ICU as of Tuesday.
The second has been released, Queensland Police Superintendent Peter Miles confirmed.
He said several types of drugs were found in the unit at Meriton Apartments in Surfers Paradise.
“We haven’t received the toxicology results, but what I can say is that there was residue of cannabis, ketamine and some mushroom capsules in the room,” he told reporters.
‘We are still not quite sure what caused the actual overdose of those three women.
“One is still in intensive care, the other is fine and obviously there is the lady who passed away.”
Ms Whittaker (pictured) left her corporate life in January and has written extensively about her upcoming book covering her sales insights.
He said any drugs the women had taken were “quite potent” and said illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin and GHB were circulating on the Gold Coast.
“I would say the other two women are very lucky to be able to pull through,” Superintendent Miles said.
‘It is a dangerous juggling act that is done when using drugs. You don’t know what’s in it, you don’t know where it comes from.
‘In this case, it turned out to be extremely powerful. “It is a dangerous act, you cannot do it, you do not know what you are taking and you do not know how you are going to react and in this case it has been fatal.”
Emergency services were called to the unit shortly after 11pm on Friday after reports that a woman was unconscious.
Seven people were inside and the other four were evaluated at the scene.
Police will conduct a toxicology report to identify the drug cocktail used and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Tributes have since flown for New Zealand-born Ms Whittaker, who had just turned 40 days old before she overdosed.
“The best of friends, loyal, trustworthy, a friend in all seasons, keeper of secrets,” one friend wrote.
‘You were always there for me, for all of us. So full of energy and joy of life.
‘You were Carpe Diem and don’t worry and do it.
‘You broke myths and stood up for the oppressed, you lifted heavy shit, you laughed out loud and you raged against the world, you cooked up a storm and created them.
‘Entrepreneurial, creative, passionate, infinite energy and joy for life.’
The friend said Mrs Whittaker had been “brave and invincible” and that “there would never be another you”.
Another friend said Ms Whittaker was “very loved and missed” and was “absolutely devastated” as the couple were due to celebrate their 40th birthday together.
Ms Whittaker (pictured) worked in New Age spirituality and was known as a ‘shamanic healer’ on social media.
“You were a force to be reckoned with and had so many incredible plans to help so many people,” he wrote.
‘Kind, brave, sensitive, hilarious, fierce, outspoken, honest (straight!), all those things and so much more – it’s been an incredible journey and I’m so lucky to have met you, let alone called you. You’re a close friend.’
Known as a “shamanic healer” on her social media, Ms. Whittaker proudly worked to “build an army of brave, empowered, soul-driven women who are here to create change and make magic.”
His work revolved around New Age spirituality.