Man dies at Adelaide Stereosonic music festival
A man has died at the Stereosonic Festival in Adelaide. The death is believed to be the result of taking an illicit drug.
A man was treated for a suspected drug overdose at Bonython Park just before 5pm. He was later taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he died.
According to police he was in possession of a number of pills.
Another man was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital just after midday suffering a medical episode. He is in a critical condition and is also believed to have taken an illicit drug.
At least six ambulances were called to the festival in Adelaide earlier in the day to treat people suffering from substance abuse or heat exhaustion.
Revelers are being closely monitored by police and first aid volunteers after the death of a 25-year-old woman at Sydney’s event last week.
There has also been a heavy police presence at Melbourne’s Stereosonic festival at the city’s showgrounds.
Thousands of revelers showed up in Adelaide just before midday as the sun turned up the heat to nearly 40 degrees.
Uniformed and plain clothed police were ready to pounce at the gate, not taking any chances after seizing half a kilogram of methamphetamine believed to be bound for the event earlier in the week.
Several young men were searched for drugs as a precaution. Even their shoes were given a once over.
The death of a 25-year-old in Sydney last weekend was front of mind for many.
But some admitted it wouldn’t prevent their friends from taking drugs.
“As long as no one has too many … has too much,” one reveler said.
The sweltering conditions didn’t stop a superhero effort with outfits, or fresh calls for drug testing kits to be available inside.
“Because they get a bad pill and if there was actually testing for it it would be so much better than police dogs over there,” one festival goer told 7 News.
But drug dogs helped officers seize at least 19 pills. Still some, festival goers slipped through the net.
Ambulance officers treated at least one person suffering convulsions and several as a result of alcohol or the heat. So far only one person has been evicted.
In Melbourne some ticketholders did not even make it through the gate. They were either picked up by police or dogs, or evicted for not following the rules.
Police are calling for anyone who may have any information that can assist Police with the investigation into either incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
