NSW coroner told different circumstances led to the five deaths, including one victim who was drinking as well as consuming MDMA

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

One of five recent suspected drug overdose deaths at music festivals in New South Wales came after the victim took between six and nine MDMA pills with “a very high rate of purity”, the state’s coroner has heard.

The NSW coroner will hold an inquest later this year into five suspected drug overdoses at music festivals in the state since September.

At a directions hearing on Tuesday, magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan described the deaths as “tragic” and a “terrible loss for their loved ones and for our community”.

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She said the upcoming inquest would look for ways to prevent further deaths at music festivals.

“We don’t want to see any more deaths,” O’Sullivan said.

The coroner’s office announced it would conduct an inquest into the five suspected drug overdose deaths last week.

The five deaths to be scrutinised by the coroner include Alex Ross-King, 19, who became the latest victim following the Fomo festival at Parramatta Park on 12 January.

Her death followed Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, who attended the Defqon.1 festival in Penrith on 15 September. Nineteen-year-old Callum Brosnan died at the Knockout Games of Destiny at Sydney Olympic Park on 9 December and Josh Tam, 22, at the Lost Paradise festival on the central coast on 29 December.

At the hearing on Tuesday, counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwyer, told the court two further deaths of young people at music festivals in recent years could be added to the inquest.

Dwyer also revealed to the court that there were major differences in the circumstances leading to the deaths.

“There are some things we know already that are important to share at this early stage,” she said.

“Based on the evidence the court has already received the quantity of the pills consumed by the five young people who died appears to be very different,” she said.

While one victim appeared to have only consumed one MDMA pill, in another case there was evidence the victim consumed between six and nine MDMA pills with 77% purity.

Dwyer called it “a very high rate of purity”.

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“That young person consumed between six and nine pills throughout the course of the day, in other cases, your honour is still waiting on toxicology results,” she said.

“In one case a young person who died was drinking as well as consuming what appears to be MDMA.

“In other cases there was no alcohol involved. Some young people sought medical attention and others did not. The court will look at a range of issues relevant to the circumstances of these deaths which all occurred at music or dance festivals.”

Dwyer said the inquest – which will likely be heard in the first half of 2019 – would look at a range of issues relating to drug deaths, including the provision of medical services at music festivals.

Deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame will oversee the inquest, and Dwyer said it would be open for her to make recommendations she “considers necessary or desirable in order to prevent similar deaths occurring in the future”.

“An issues list is yet to be settled [but there are] a range of issues relevant to the circumstances of these deaths [including] the availability of water and refreshments at these festivals, the provision of shade and rest areas and the adequacy of the medical services available at the relevant venues,” she said.

The NSW government has been under increasing pressure to consider allowing pill testing at music festivals following the deaths.

Last week the Royal Australasian College of Physicians joined the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners as well as the former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer in calling for pill testing to be allowed at festivals.

However the government has so far resisted those calls, with the state’s premier Gladys Berejiklian instead urging young people not to take drugs.

On Tuesday magistrate O’Sullivan said she wanted to reiterate warnings from health professional for young people to take care at music festivals.

“The hot weather in Australia is set to continue and this summer NSW and other states and territories have experienced the hottest days on record,” she said.