Friend reveals overdose victim's last words before death
A man who took up to nine MDMA capsules at a Sydney music festival told his friend "he was just going to keep a strong mind and push through it," before he collapsed and died, an inquest has heard.
Passionate musician and AFL player Callum Brosnan, 19, became unresponsive at Olympic Park train station after attending the Knockout Games of Destiny electronic dance music event in December 2018.
He died in hospital within hours as a result of MDMA and cocaine toxicity.
Mr Brosnan took between six-and-a-half and nine capsules at the event, Detective Inspector Karl Reis told the inquest on Tuesday.
The police officer said one capsule later found in the teenager's bum bag was tested and contained MDMA at a high purity of 77 percent.
One of his friends, who can't be identified for legal reasons, gave evidence that they bumped into each other about 5pm and stayed together for most of the festival.
He understood Mr Brosnan to previously ingest MDMA once or twice a month, adding that on "most occasions" those in their peer group took multiple capsules.
He said by 9pm Mr Brosnan had told one of their friends he'd had seven MDMA capsules.
Mr Brosnan seemed fine and dancing, singing and performing shows for other patrons with his light-up gloves, the friend told the NSW Coroners Court.
"We believe he could've got more pills for doing these shows for people but that's not something we can confirm."
He said usually people would offer something as a reward for the displays.
But by about 11.30pm, Mr Brosnan was "standing there, staring at the stage, looking blank", he said.
"I asked if he needed a break or some water and he said 'no'."
He said Mr Brosnan's comment about pushing through made him think "he'd be alright" but he stumbled on the way to the station after the event and was found talking to "some random people" who couldn't understand him.
Paramedic Brae Pettiford said Mr Brosnan was fitting when they arrived and never regained consciousness.
He went into cardiac arrest on the way to Concord Hospital.
The friend told the coroner if he could speak to his younger self he would have made Mr Brosnan get medical help, fresh air or some rest - "whatever could have helped".
Cornelius Brosnan previously told the inquest his "forever loyal son" always put his friends' needs before his own.
"He was a remarkable young man and through his courage and buoyant personality ... taught us many things about life that without him we would be none the wiser," he said.
Mr Brosnan was caring for young people with autism at a house in Oatlands in the year before he died.
The coroner told his family "I think everyone is feeling and acknowledges that terrible pain".
The 19-year-old's drug-related death is one of six at NSW music festivals between December 2018 and January 2019 being examined by Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame.
Nathan Tran, Diana Nguyen, Joseph Pham, Joshua Tam and Alexandra Ross-King also died from MDMA toxicity or complications of MDMA use.
They were aged between 18 and 23.
Mr Tran died at Knockout Circuz run by Harder Styles United Events - the same company behind the Knockout Games of Destiny.
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