Simpson to get high in jungle again

The first time John Simpson tried a dangerous hallucinogenic drug in the rainforest, his mind went on a disturbing journey involving talking trees and a 6ft goldfish.

But the BBC journalist was clearly not put off by his experience – and 25 years later the 72-year-old has revealed he will take the drug again while filming a documentary in the Amazon.

The drug, called ayahuasca, is a powerful drink used by the Ashaninka Indians (pictured alongside Simpson) that is said to make a person confront fears from their past. It is a potent form of Dimethyltryptamine, which is illegal in the UK.

Despite ayahuasca being responsible for the death of at least one Briton, Simpson says he is ‘relaxed’ about taking it again in October. however, the world affairs editor admitted he was ‘terribly nervous’ before taking the tribal drug in 1992 – and recalls seeing a 6ft goldfish who ‘came and put his fin around my shoulder wearing a hat and said: “how’s it going man?”’

Simpson, whose book We Chose to Speak of War and Strife is out now, told the Mail: ‘I had no problems but I know people that have had real problems.’

Asked if he was nervous about taking the drug again, he said: ‘I’m quite kind of relaxed about all these different things.’ The BBC has been contacted for comment.