Following the tragic death of a teenage patron at yesterday’s event, the organisers of Sydney dance festival Harbourlife have issued an official statement, offering condolences to her family and reiterating the dangers of illegal drugs.
Friends of the 19-year-old woman have allegedly told police that she took one and a half pills before collapsing at the festival. Paramedics treated her at the scene, but she later went into cardiac arrest and died at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Dr Gordian Fulde, head of St Vincent’s emergency department, said that the woman’s case had “devastated” his staff.
“I’m still upset for what it’s worth …” he told News Limited. “The emergency department is still hurting today. It’s just seeing the indescribable grief from the family, from the mother. It shouldn’t happen to anyone.”
The full text of Harbourlife’s statement reads:
A patron who attended Harbourlife yesterday died in hospital last night. A drug overdose or adverse reaction is suspected. At this stage a coroner’s report has not been made so we don’t have further factual information.
Right now our thoughts are with her family – we can hardly imagine the pain and heartbreak they must be feeling, and they have our deepest sympathy.
Harbourlife has been held annually since 2003. It has a fully equipped first aid tent with an emergency doctor, 2 paramedics, 3 first responder medics, 2 supervisors and a communications officer.
The patron collapsed at 4.37pm and event security called event fist aid. A paramedic was there at 4.38, a second at 4.41 and NSW ambulance paramedics were with the patient at 4.45. She was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital.
Police have issued a warning reminding people of the dangers of illegal drugs: “There’s little to no quality control in the production of illicit
drugs. Quite simply, you don’t know what you are getting – seeking a synthetic high, could result in a serious injury or death.”
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