One teenager is dead, another man is in critical condition, and four more have been taken to hospital after apparently ingesting illicit drugs at the A State of Trance dance music festival in Sydney over the weekend.
According to Nine News, a 19-year-old man collapsed at the festival, which was held at Sydney’s Olympic Park in Homebush on Saturday, and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where he later died.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man from Arncliffe was one of five revellers taken to Westmead Hospital, according to a statement from NSW Police. The man is reportedly still in a critical condition but remains stable on life support.
Police, who were conducting a high visibility operation at the event, said a 22-year-old man approached event medical staff and allegedly informed them that he had ingested a large amount of pills, while a total of 23 punters were treated by medical staff.
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“Despite efforts by police and the event organisers to ensure people could attend this music event and enjoy themselves without their lives being put in danger, one man has died and another remains in Westmead Hospital in a critical condition,” said South Western Metropolitan Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mennilli.
“New South Wales Police will continue to use drug dogs and search people at events if we believe they are carrying illegal drugs,” Assistant Commissioner Mennilli added. “If you carry and supply illegal drugs you will be arrested.”
Three people were reportedly arrested on drug supply charges, while another 40 were issued criminal infringement notices for drug possession and other offences. One 21-year-old Victorian man is expected to appear in court today after he was caught with 15 MDMA tablets.
Police are also reporting on the arrest of a 20-year-old Auburn man who allegedly tried to run from police. After he was detained and searched, police allegedly found nearly 100 tablets, believed to be MDMA, and cash on him.
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The man was charged with several offences, including supplying more than an indictable quantity of drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime. He was granted bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court later this month.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man from the Greenacre area was also charged with supplying more than an indictable quantity of drugs and is expected to appear in Fairfield local Court on 16th March 2015. It is not known what drugs he was supplying.
The festival, which saw a turnout of 16,000 revellers, is touted as a “celebration weekend” headlined by Dutch trance veteran Armin van Buuren, who hosts a famous weekly mix show of the same name and regularly tours under the A State of Trance banner around the world.
While the festival and headliner are yet to release a statement, this is not the first time that an ASOT patron has died from alleged drug use. According to Nine News, via The Jakarta Globe, three teenagers died during last year’s event in Indonesia.
