Six suspected overdoses at Rainbow Serpent festival
Six people have suffered suspected overdoses at the four-day Rainbow Serpent music festival, as police make a litany of drug arrests.
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Six people have suffered suspected drug overdoses at the Rainbow Serpent music festival, with a total of 13 revellers rushed to hospital from four-day party.
A 24-year-old Ivanhoe man was the latest to be taken to hospital in critical condition after a suspected overdose at the festival in Lexton, near Ballarat, in western Victoria.
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He remains at the University Hospital Geelong in a stable condition.
Others hospitalised include:
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat in a critical condition after a suspected drug overdose
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat in a serious condition after a suspected drug overdose
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat in a stable condition over of a medical condition
— A woman in her 20s taken to Ballarat after a suspected drug overdose
— A man in his 20s taken to Beaufort in a serious condition after a suspected drug overdose
— A woman in her 20s taken to Ballarat in a critical condition with a suspected medical condition
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat hospital in a serious but stable condition after a suspected drug overdose
— A man in his 30s taken to Ballarat in a stable condition over a medical condition
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat in a critical condition after a suspected drug overdose
— A woman in her late teens taken to Ballarat in a stable condition with a medical condition
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat Hospital in a stable condition after reports of a fall
— A man in his 20s taken to Ballarat in a stable condition suffering a medical condition
Sixth person hospitalised following suspected drug overdose at Rainbow Serpent Festival. Patient taken to Ballarat hospital in a serious condition this arvo. Many others seeking medical help @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/NhB98Tjvoe
— Aneeka Simonis (@AneekaSimonis) January 27, 2019
Meanwhile, another three people have been arrested at the festival for drug-related offences.
One of the men was charged and remanded for trafficking a drug of dependence and possessing proceeds of crime.
In the 24-hours to 7.30 this morning, another 13 people were found to be carrying drugs and slapped with drug diversions or cannabis cautions.
The Herald Sun witnessed dealers peddling drugs at the notorious festival where two men previously overdosed and died.
Drug deals were being made in the open at music stages and campgrounds, despite a large number of police patrolling the festival.
Ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, MDMA, cannabis and magic mushrooms were among the illicit drugs on offer.
Teenage dealers were among those charged by police.
Others were arrested for assault, dealing in the proceeds of crime and holding counterfeit cash.
As police, paramedics and security patrolled the grounds for trouble, one tearful reveller paid tribute to his mate, Jason Langford, who overdosed and died there two years ago.
A coroner found Mr Langford had taken ketamine, cocaine, diazepam and Xanax as well as amyl nitrate — which is intended for inhaling — before suffering a fatal cardiac arrest.
Two framed pictures of the 22-year-old were placed alongside flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial.
The friend of Mr Langford cried as he said his mate’s death reminded him of the dangers of drugs.
“(His death) has made me take drugs more responsibly,” he said. “I miss him. He would have loved to be here.”
Daniel Buccianti, 34, also died after taking “bad acid” at the event in 2012.
Earlier at the festival, two men were arrested for allegedly trafficking a drug of dependence.
One was charged with possessing the proceeds of crime.
Another man was charged with drug possession and assault and a woman was charged with drug possession.
One man was found with counterfeit cash and drugs.
Seventeen people were given a drug diversion or cannabis caution.
A paramedic told the Herald Sun the crowd was mostly well behaved. “They are far less ‘aggro’ than at other festivals,” he said.
It comes as fierce debate continues about pill testing after several recent deaths at festivals nationwide.
Pro-pill testing posters were plastered across the grounds of the festival.
Police, paramedics and security guards were patrolling the grounds as revellers openly took and sold drugs.
As one person was taken away in an ambulance after a suspected overdose, nearby a man earlier seen smoking drugs was unconscious as medics tried to revive him.
While police were dealing with the collapsed man, another was ordered to climb down from a large tree outside the grounds.
Police confirmed youths aged 17 and 19 were among those charged with drug trafficking on the first day of the festival. The 17-year-old was charged and bailed on Sunday to appear in Children’s Court.
The other 18 arrests included a French woman, 25, charged with drug trafficking and other drug offences and remanded to appear at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
A further 11 people received a cannabis caution or drug diversion for possession offences.
Ballarat Local Area Commander Inspector Dan Davison said police would have a “high visible presence” at the festival.
On Thursday, three people were crushed inside a tent by a runaway festival truck. They were admitted to hospital, one man in a critical condition. He was later listed as stable.
The festival ends on Monday.