CORRECTION: We earlier posted an image of a young woman in this story, who was widely reported – originally by The Daily Telegraph – as Sylvia Choi. Mumbrella has since reported that the incorrect image was used, and the woman in the original image is not Sylvia Choi. We have updated our story to include a correct image, and sincerely apologise for any distress caused by this error.
Police have identified the 25-year-old woman who died after the Sydney Stereosonic festival as Sylvia Choi, a qualified pharmacist from Oyster Bay, and blamed her death on a drug overdose.
Though the cause of the young woman’s death will not be conclusively known until autopsy results come in, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Frank Minnelli has nonetheless told media that he believes drugs played a part.
Minnelli, who led a joint drug operation at Stereosonic, that included the use of sniffer dogs, slammed the “mentality of drug culture and music festivals” saying:
“We’ve got to change it. There’s no such thing as safe drugs. You’re playing Russian roulette with your life. You do not know what you are putting in your system. These drugs are made by criminals in backyards. It’s like opening a bottle of bleach and swallowing it.”
There have been calls to end the use of sniffer dogs at festivals, but Minnelli defended the practice, saying the police approach is one of harm minimisation, and that “at the end of the day, it comes back to the individual making the right choices.”
Yesterday, Stereosonic made a statement via their Facebook page, saying:
Totem Onelove conveys our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the patron who tragically passed away on Saturday night at Sydney Stereosonic. As it is a matter with the NSW Police and Coroner we cannot make any further statements or comment.
We appeal to our audience that they stay safe and look out for each other.
Those close to Choi have paid tribute, calling her death “a waste of a beautiful life.” One former school fried told Daily Mail Australia:
“Sylvia was an incredibly smart girl at school who would obviously go far in life. She was a talented and amazingly kind girl and I cannot believe that this would ever happen to her.”
A 22-year-old woman, believed to be a British tourist, has been released from Westmead Hospital after earlier being rushed there from the festival and placed in an induced coma.
The Sydney leg of Stereosonic saw 69 people arrested for drug possession and supply offences.
via 9 News / Herald Sun
Image via Facebook
Image via Facebook
