Defqon. 1, Australia’s hardstyle dance music festival, may have had it’s last event ever on Saturday night.
After two deaths from suspected drug overdoses, NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has stated that she vows to shut down the music festival.
Police have said a 23-year-old man from Western Sydney and a 21-year-old woman from Victoria died in Nepean Hospital after collapsing at the festival at about 9.00pm. The festival was held in Penrith.
A 26-year-old is in Nepean hospital in a critical condition while a 19-year-old man was airlifted in a critical condition to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital where he remains in intensive care. A third person is also in hospital in a critical condition.
Berejiklian described the deaths as “absolutely tragic” and vows to ban the event.
“I never want to see this event held in Sydney or New South Wales ever again – we will do everything we can to shut this down,” she said.
Police said 13 attended Nepean Hospital for treatment for drug-related issues, while up to 700 people sought help from medical staff at the music festival.
Ten people were charged with drug supply offences at the festival, including a 22-year-old man from Bankstown who was charged with supplying a prohibited drug, greater than a commercial quantity, after he was allegedly found with 20 packets of GHB.
A total of 355 drug searches were conducted with 69 people found to be in possession of drugs, including the 10 charged with supply offences.
Police have formed Strike Force Highworth to investigate the deaths and police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the organisers of Defqon.1 said they were “deeply saddened by the tragic passing” of the pair and sent condolences to their families.
“We are disappointed at the number of reported drug-related incidents, we have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to drug use at the festival,” the spokesperson said.
Festival organisers are working closely and cooperating with the authorities regarding the fatalities and the number of medical presentations made during the evening, a full investigation is currently underway.
