“Truly heartbreaking”: Another Aus fest fatality

Less than a week after it was revealed a limited form of pill testing is to be introduced at several music festivals in New South Wales (NSW), one person lost their life and another suffered a serious overdose at a NSW festival on Saturday.

A 22-year-old man was taken to hospital (where NSW police say he is in a “serious but stable condition”) after suffering a suspected overdose at the EarthCore dance music festival in western Sydney, and the Australian Associated Press reports a 25-year-old woman was found dead, although the cause of her death is still undetermined.

In a press statement, the NSW Police Force says it is “concerned by the number of drug detections” at Earthcore, where it arrested nine people for drug-related offences.

“The majority of festivalgoers were well behaved and supported police efforts in making the event safer,” says superintendent Peter Lennon. “However, a small number choose to break the law and attempt to bring illegal drugs into the event, which is disappointing.

“The majority of festivalgoers were well behaved and supported police efforts in making the event safer”

“We are frustrated with the actions of several festival attendees, who despite all the warnings attempted to bring illegal drugs into the event.”

It is unclear whether there was any form of drug testing in place at Earthcore. IQ has contacted the Ted Noffs Foundation, the operator of the planned pill-testing programme, for clarification.

The festival attracted approximately 2,100 people to Western Sydney Parklands from noon to 11pm, say police.

The event’s promoter, Earthcore Pty Ltd, describes the death as “truly heartbreaking news” but “strongly advise[s] that making wild speculations and inferences during this very difficult time for the family and friends of the deceased will add more stress and difficulties to a very sad and unfortunate situation”. It adds it will make a formal statement following the coroner’s report.

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