Two dead, two critical after Sydney dance music festival
A man and woman have died and a further two people remain in hospital in a critical condition following a dance music festival in Sydney’s west.
Strike Force Highworth has been formed to investigate the deaths of The 23-year-old man and 21-year-old woman collapsed at Defqon.1 festival in Penrith about 9pm on Saturday and were rushed to Napean Hospital.
Medical staff were unable to save them and they died a short time after.
A 26-year-old Jamisontown woman was also rushed to the hospital where she remains in a critical condition.
A 19-year-old man from Artarmon was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition and remains in intensive care.
Emergency services attending the Sydney International Regatta Centre responded to multiple reports of suspected drug overdoses.
Police have been told an additional 13 people attended Nepean Hospital for treatment for drug-related issues, while as many as 700 people sought assistance from medical staff on-site.
Ten charged with drug supply offences
Ten people were charged with drug supply offences following the festival with three due to appear in court on Sunday.
A 22-year-old man, from Bankstown, a 33-year-old man, from Mt Pritchard and a 27-year-old man from Sydney have all been charged with supply a prohibited drug and have been refused bail to Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.
Two teenage girls, both aged 17, have also been charged with supply a prohibited drug after they allegedly carried 120 capsules internally into the venue.
A further two men and three women were also charged with supply drug offences.
A range of illicit drugs were seized including MDMA, cocaine and ecstasy.
Two people have died and two others are fighting for life, after suspected drug overdoses, at the Defqon music festival in Sydney. Paramedics began treating multiple patients after they collapsed at the event at Penrith around 9pm last night. #7News pic.twitter.com/gG47sZOWSw
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 15, 2018
NSW police conducted 355 drug searches leading to 69 people found to be in possession of drugs, including the 10 charged with supply offences.
Strike Force Highworth has been formed to investigate the deaths of the two young people. It comprises detectives from Nepean Police Area Command.
An investigation is now underway into the circumstances surrounding the man and woman’s deaths with officers from Nepean Police Area Command appealing for anyone with information about their deaths to come forward.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
