'Unsafe heat and dehydration': Family slam festival after son's fatal overdose
The family and friends of a young man who died at an alternative music and arts festival in regional Victoria have slammed organisers for failing to run a safe event.
Jacob Langford, 22, died on Saturday after apparently drinking an intoxicant meant for inhalation while at the Rainbow Serpent festival.
Devastated family members said he collapsed after "accidentally skolling a substance he believed was safe but ended up being a poisonous product meant only for inhaling".
Jacob Langford died after reportedly skolling an intoxicant at the Rainbow Serpent in Victoria. Source: Facebook
The adored 22-year-old was pronounced dead at the festival. Source: Facebook
"The festival goes way too long without affordable food and drink. With that much heat and dehydration, it does not equal a safe environment," his mother Jill and sisters Imogen and Ember told the Herald Sun.
Paramedics were called to the festival in Lexton at 10.15pm on Saturday night but the man was already dead, police said.
Mr Langford reportedly consumed the intoxicant that was only fit for inhalation. Source: Facebook
His grieving family members have slammed the Rainbow Serpent festival. Source: Facebook
Mr Langford's devastated friends took to Facebook to leave heartbreaking tributes.
"You hear about these things happening on the news at festivals but never in a million years think it would happen to one of your friends," his friend Andrew Allen wrote.
"Grateful I at least saw and hugged you one last time over the weekend. Rest in peace Jakey boy."
His friends left touching tributes on Facebook. Source: Facebook
Meanwhile police said it was a miracle no one died while behind the wheel at the psychadelic festival after 40 drivers tested positive for drugs outside the festival.
A My Cause page has since been set up in the days following Mr Langford's death, raising more than $12,000 to help his family deal with funeral costs.
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The Kensington man is the second person to die at the festival in the past five years after Daniel Buccianti, 34, died at the festival in 2012 after taking LSD.
Victoria Police this week slammed the festival, calling for major changes after releasing a damning rap sheet of this year's event that listed a death, two sexual assaults and numerous drug trafficking arrests.
Rainbow Serpent organiser Tim Harvey told AAP the festival would release an official statement in the coming days.
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