When will they listen? Third fatal overdose in as many months

The organisers of the hardcore dance music festival where teenager Callum Brosnan died have a history littered with overdoses, hospitalisations and hundreds of arrests at their events.

• Callum Brosnan, 19, had ‘fit’ during suspected overdose
• Two dead after Defqon.1 dance festival

The organisers of the hardcore dance music festival where teenager Callum Brosnan died have a history littered with overdoses, hospitalisations and hundreds of arrests at their events.

Police are now investigating Sydney’s latest dance music fatality and authorities fear they are now in a race against time to save more young lives with three more extreme rave events coming up between now and January 26.

Callum Brosnan is remembered by his mother was “a stunning and beautiful boy”. Picture: Facebook

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Two of them are being staged by Harder Styles United (HSU), the organisers of Saturday night’s Knockout Games of Destiny at Sydney Olympic Park, which ended with Callum, 19, dead and 16 people rushed to hospital with three placed in induced comas.

The tragedy comes just three months after two people died due to drug overdoses at the Defqon. 1 hardstyle dance event in Penrith.

Police sources said Callum had taken drugs at the festival before having a “fit” at the nearby train station at 1.20am. He was taken to Concord Hospital and placed in an induced coma but died at 4.30am.

The three people placed in induced comas were all said to be in stable conditions last night. It is understood that one of them has severe kidney failure from the overdose.

Callum’s devastated mother last night said their family had been shattered.

“He was a stunning and beautiful boy,” she told The Daily Telegraph at the family’s Baulkham Hills home. “He was larger than life.”

Hayley Sheers says Callum Brosnan was "taken too soon".

Hayley Sheers, a young woman believed to have been in a relationship with the 19-year-old, took to Facebook to post a heartfelt tribute and a photo of the talented AFL player.

“Rest easy my beautiful man – you were definitely taken too soon,” Ms Sheers wrote.

“I love you, I will always love you.”

A friend who went to school with Callum at Crestwood High in Baulkham Hills also remembered him as a “great bloke”.

“I still can’t believe it, it feels quite surreal,” the friend said.

“He was a great bloke. He loved footy and politics. Overall he was a great guy, always having great chats and he was always there for you.”

Callum Brosnan being treated at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: 7News

At events organised by HSU in the past three years, hundreds of festivalgoers have sought medical attention, with at least 21 needing to be taken to hospital and more 150 charged with drug offences.

A hospital spokeswoman said the three were in stable conditions just after 7am on Monday.

Another man, 18, died after tripping over and hitting his head at their Knockout Circuz festival at Homebush last December amid reports he became violent with a security guard.

HSU had posted warnings of searches, drug dogs and a police operation before Saturday’s event.

Games of Destiny Dance Party at Homebush being promoted on Facebook.

One of the five people arrested over drugs charges at Saturday’s event, Jonathan Carey-Spence, 25, had bags of drugs spilling from his pants, it was alleged in Parramatta Local Court yesterday. A magistrate denied him bail after he was allegedly found with 145 MDMA capsules.

Carey-Spence appeared via audiovisual link in court on charges of supply and possession, where Magistrate Darrell Pearce revealed Carey-Spence was already facing drug charges in the District Court.

There is no suggestion the drugs allegedly found on Carey-Spence contributed to the death of Callum Brosnan.

Games of Destiny Dance Party held at Homebush. Picture: Instagram

Carey-Spence’s distraught mother would not discuss the charges outside court, saying only that she was concerned for her son’s health. He is due to face court again today.

An 18-year-old girl was allegedly found with 390 MDMA capsules at the festival and will face court next month.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell said the death was a tragedy and urged people to stop “gambling with their lives”.

“These drugs are not safe, there is no safe limit,” he said.

“Please stay away from drugs altogether because if you keep on doing them eventually it might be you.”

Alleged MDMA dealer Jonathan Carey-Spence’s mother outside Parramatta Bail Court, where he was refused bail, on Sunday.

He said there were more than 130 police and another 140 security personnel at the event.

HSU had no comment yesterday but on their Facebook page, the company’s owner Peter Finlay said before Callum’s death: “We go above and beyond every other company in the country for safety.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who pledged to get tough after the deaths of Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, who died after collapsing at the Defqon. 1 festival in September, said Saturday’s event was organised before new regulations came into force two weeks ago.

“We took swift action following recent tragedies to strengthen laws and regulations to keep people safe at music festivals and concerts,” Ms Berejiklian, who once again firmly ruled out pill testing, said.

“We stand ready to take further action to keep the community safe if necessary.”

The location of the Games of Destiny Dance Party on Sunday, after the party.