Four people have been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after attending a music dance festival in Sydney’s west during a severe heatwave on Saturday.
Key points:
Epik music festival took place at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday
Temperatures reached a maximum of 42.5C during the day
The heath minister said festival-goers had to take “some personal responsibility”
The revellers were at the Epik music festival at the Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park, where temperatures reached a maximum of 42.5C at 3pm before gradually dropping.
The temperature didn’t fall below 30C until 7:51pm, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the hospitalisations were drug-related.
“I can report that there were four transfers to hospitals from the Epik music festival,” Mr Park said at a press conference in Wollongong on Sunday.
“Those people are in a critical but stable condition, their conditions appear to be from taking drugs and drug-related issues.”
Mr Park said the government had worked extensively with festival organisers to ensure safe measures were in place for attendees amidst the sweltering conditions, including an increase in first aid and the number of “cool and chill out zones”.
“Chill out zones” are selected areas at the festival where revellers can take a break and relax.
Mr Park said people attending music festivals had to take some personal responsibility.(ABC News)
However, the health minister warned that people had to “take some personal responsibility” and make sure “they understand what they’re doing” when attending a festival.
“Government cannot and will not be responsible for every individual’s behaviour but we are working with festival organisers to make them as safe as possible,” he said.
NSW Health sent a statement earlier in the day about the hospitalisations.
Two men in their 20s died from suspected overdoses after attending the Knockout Festival on September 30, which was held in the same arena that hosted Epik festival.
The investigation into what occurred is still ongoing.
As the pill-testing debate rages on, several doctors say the conversation is swamped by political discourse and are concerned partygoers don’t understand the risks in mixing certain drugs, how potency can turn lethal, and why extreme heat is deadly.
It's Kelly Clarkson's first holiday season since her show moved to New York, and it looks like she's getting used to the Christmastime crowds around Rockefeller Center.In a hilarious video shared to TikTok Dec. 8 by Marc Jordan Cohen, one family performed a Rockette-style kickline together standing on the sidewalk in front of Radio City Music Hall. But after a few repetitions, they were interrupted by a photobomber — Clarkson. In the clip, the "Mine" singer walked into the left side […]
