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Sydney music festival deaths: Two young people dead

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Sun, 16 Sep 2018, 1:09PM
The main Defqon1 stage. Photo / Twitter, @iambnsn
The main Defqon1 stage. Photo / Twitter, @iambnsn

Sydney music festival deaths: Two young people dead

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Sun, 16 Sep 2018, 1:09PM

Two young revellers have tragically died after collapsing at a Sydney music festival from suspected drug overdoses and another two are critically ill.

Emergency services responded to multiple reports of suspected drug overdoses at the Defqon1 music festival, which marked its 10th anniversary overnight, in Sydney's west yesterday.

The annual event - featuring hardcore techno, house and trance music, and dubbed by organisers as "the world's largest harder styles festival" - attracted about 30,000 revellers to the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith. But just a few hours into the night, tragedy struck.

A 23-year-old man and 21-year-old woman who both collapsed around 9pm were transported from the venue to Nepean Hospital but died soon after.

A 19-year-old man from Artarmon was flown from the festival to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition. He remains in intensive care. A fourth reveller — a 26-year-old woman from Jamisontown — also remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Police said 13 festivalgoers attended Nepean Hospital overnight for treatment for drug-related issues, while as many as 700 people sought assistance from medical staff on site.

Defqon1 Australia organisers this morning released a statement to news.com.au in response to the deaths.

"The organisers of Defqon.1 Australia are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of two of their patrons at Nepean Hospital after attending the festival last night and would like to convey their sincerest condolences to their families and friends," the statement read.

"Thoughts and prayers are also with the young man and woman who are still in a critical condition.

"We are disappointed at the number of reported drug related incidents, we have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to drug use at the festival."

Festival organisers are working closely and co-operating with the authorities regarding the fatalities and the number of medical presentations made during the evening, a full investigation is currently underway, the statement continued.

"As this is a matter with the NSW Police and the coroner and out of respect for the families and friends we are not going to speculate on the cause of death and we will not be making any further statements or comments," it said.

A total of 10 people, inclduing two 17-year-old girls who allegedly carried 120 capsules internally into the venue, have been charged with drug supply offences; three are due in court today.

A range of illicit drugs were seized including MDMA, cocaine and ecstasy.

In a statement, police said a total of 355 drug searches were conducted with 69 people found to be in possession of drugs, including the 10 charged with supply offences.

"A multifaceted operation was undertaken at the festival with resources including the Nepean PAC, Police Transport Command, North West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad, NWM OSG, and the Police Dog Unit," the statement read.

Defqon.1 organisers had warned ticket holders the festival's drug policy was zero tolerance.

"This means that all types of soft and hard drugs are prohibited. If drugs are found, you will be handed over to the police," a statement on the festival's website said.

Strike Force Highworth has been formed to investigate the deaths of the two young people and an investigation is underway.

In 2015 Nigel Pauljevic, 26, was found unconscious in a tent at the festival and later died.

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