Surfers Paradise drugs overdose: Fresh details on incident that claimed life of Danielle Whittaker

One of three women who overdosed at a Gold Coast party which claimed the life of a 40-year-old remains in intensive care, with new details emerging about what was found in the unit.

A woman remains in intensive care in hospital after overdosing on drugs in a high-rise party incident that claimed the life of one of her friends celebrating four decades.

The hospitalised woman was one of three people who had to be resuscitated by paramedics after taking the drugs at the party in a Surfers Paradise apartment on Good Friday.

Danielle Whittaker, who had turned 40 just days earlier, died at the scene after suffering cardiac arrest, while the other two women were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.

Of those two women, also aged in their forties, one has since been released from hospital while the other remains in intensive care.

Danielle Whittaker had just turned 40 when a day of revelry with friends took a tragic twist on Good Friday, leaving her dead and two of her friends lying in hospital beds. Picture: Facebook.

Police investigating the tragic incident have also revealed a number of different drugs were found at the party, which was attended by seven people.

“We haven’t got the toxicology results back but what I can say is that there was cannabis residue, there was ketamine and some mushroom caps located in the room,” Superintendent Peter Miles said.

“What caused the actual overdose for those three women, we’re not quite sure yet.

“One’s still in intensive care, one is ok, and obviously there is the lady that passed away.

“Whatever it was it was pretty potent. It’s a stark reminder that you don’t know what you’re putting in your system.”

Friends have paid tribute to Ms Whittaker as “a force of nature”, who will be “loved and missed”.

Originally from New Zealand, she had just celebrated her 40th birthday in the days before she died.

Superintendent Peter Miles speaks to media in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday. Picture: Keith Woods.

An online fundraiser has been launched for Ms Whittaker to try and bring her body back to New Zealand, where she was originallyfrom. The Gofundme page was set up by friend Josephine Harris, who lives in Brisbane.

“Tell people that they shouldn’t speculate and pass on judgement; that people see everything and it’s hurtful to grievingloved ones.

“It was a public holiday, people don’t know what happened and these trolls in the comments section have been saying some reallyterrible things,” Ms Harris said.

Fellow friend Leanne Erhad told the Bulletin: “I think what happened was an accident, a very sad accident and possibly anerror of judgment in the moment.”

Supt Miles said police were seeing a lot of drugs out in the community on the Gold Coast, leading to incidences of overdoses.

“We are seeing overdoses. It’s not one particular drug, it could be GHB, it could be ketamine, heroin is making a bit of a comeback. We are seeing a lot of drugs out in the community,” he said.

“But we’re not seeing one particular drug standing out amongst anything else.

“Heroin’s out there, cocaine’s out there. It’s a buyer’s market. People have woken up since Covid and we’re seeing more and more drugs.”

He appealed to people to think twice before taking illicit substances.

“The other two ladies I would say are extremely lucky that they are able to pull through,” he said.

“It’s a dangerous juggle that you’re going with when you’re taking drugs. You don’t know what’s in it, you don’t know where it’s coming from.

“ ... In this case, it proved to be extremely potent. It’s a dangerous act, you can’t do it, you don’t know what you’re taking and you don’t know how you’re going to react and in this case it’s proven fatal.”

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Originally published as Surfers Paradise drugs overdose: Fresh details on incident that claimed life of Danielle Whittaker