Queensland police have not confirmed if festivalgoers’ deaths are drug-related

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A young man and a woman have been found dead inside a tent at a music festival near the Queensland-New South Wales border.

Police were called to the Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival in Elbow Valley, south of Warwick in Queensland, at about 9.30am on Monday after the bodies of a 24-year-old Maleny man and a 22-year-old Nambour woman were discovered.

A Queensland police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances and the investigation was ongoing.

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He could not confirm whether the deaths were drug-related. Police have dismissed speculation a tree may have fallen on the tent.

The festival organisers said it was “ truly heartbreaking to lose some beautiful souls”. “All of the staff and community at Rabbits Eat Lettuce would like to pass on our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of those who were found deceased,” organisers said in a statement.

Festival organisers insisted the wellbeing and safety of patrons was the number one priority.

“We have highly trained first aid, professional paramedics working 24 hours throughout the festival and an on call doctor onsite,” the statement said.

“The relevant bodies will be investigating to determine exactly what happened. It is appropriate that we give them the chance to do their work and respect the deceased family’s right to privacy and avoid any speculation,” the statement said.

There have been a string of drug-related festival deaths since September last year and emergency department doctors are among those calling for testing as a harm minimisation measure.

Police officers are preparing a report for the coroner.