Sports-mad Sydney teenager had ingested nitrous oxide, police sources say

Just hours before he fell to his death from an apartment balcony while celebrating schoolies week on the Gold Coast, Hamish Bidgood’s mates joked online about having a big night, unaware of what was to happen.

Just hours before he fell to his death from a Gold Coast balcony, Hamish Bidgood’s mates posted a Snapchat video of a big night ahead.

“This is the beginning of the end for Hamish Bidgood,” one friend joked, unaware of what was to happen.

By 5am Thursday, the Turramurra High graduate was dead after plunging 11 storeys from a Surfers Paradise unit block in the heart of the ­annual Schoolies celebration.

Hamish Bidgood died after falling from a Gold Coast balcony.

Hamish Bidgood was celebrating schoolies on the Gold Coast.

The teenager was staying at the Surf Regency. Supplied

Tributes began flowing in on social media today for the “much loved” Sydney teen.

“Rest easy Hambo, they’re lucky to have you up there,” one friend posted on Hamish’s Facebook profile.

“I felt like I was having a bad dream and that I would wake up and still be able to see his consistent smiling face,” another said.

“Everyone stay strong, he would want us to support each other like he would support us.”

Police sources said they believed the sports-mad teen had been ingesting nitrous oxide after a night of drinking with friends.

Hamish and his friends from Sydney’s upper north shore were in high spirits after partying at the beach and clubs in Surfers Paradise among the thousands of other youths celebrating the end of Year 12 and the start of life as adults.

The footage on the Snapchat stories platform, which has since been deleted, showed Hamish on Wednesday night dressed in a white T-shirt and having the time of his life.

After he fell from the Surf Regency Holiday Apartments room, landing near the property’s pool on a grassed area, two police officers tried to revive the teen before paramedics jumped a fence to help.

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A Queensland Police spokeswoman said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

The 18-year-old’s devastated parents, Des and Lyn Bidgood, along with his brothers Daniel and Oliver, were on their way from their Berowra Heights home to Surfers Paradise on Thursday, friends said.

A close family friend of the Bidgoods said that they were extremely distraught.

“I’m absolutely gutted. He was such a great kid,” the friend said.

The family — Mr Bidgood works for Family and Community Services and Ms Bidgood is a nurse — are closely involved with the small ­Berowra community where Hamish was last night being remembered as a keen sportsman and “much loved”. Hamish was a keen cricket player and a member of Berowra Cricket Club.

Police attended a non-suspicious death in Surfers Paradise at Laycock St at 5am today. Supplied

Hamish’s shocked mates have cut their holiday short and are returning home after the tragedy which is likely to ­result in renewed scrutiny on the use of nitrous oxide as a party substance.

The small canisters of ­nitrous oxide gas — also known as nangs or bulbs — are easily available in corner stores in packs of 10 for $10, designed to be used for whipping cream. Once inhaled, the gas can provide intense highs that last for just 20 seconds.

After less than five minutes in the sand dunes directly in front of Surf Regency The Daily Telegraph counted 15 ­nitrous oxide canisters and balloons which are often used to inhale the gas.

One Schoolie, who refused to be named, told The Daily Telegraph that he and his friends were regularly offered MDMA, cigarettes and “nangs” throughout their week-long stay.

He said it happened so often he considered it normal.

Thousands of teenagers have been celebrating schoolies week on the Gold Coast. Picture: Brad Hunter

Worryingly, it tended to be other schoolies who were offering the drugs.

“It happened a lot to my mates,” he said.

“It happened when we had small talk with other schoolies. I’d ask where they were from and they’d ask if I had drugs, or ‘do you have any nangs’?

“It’s sort of the normal thing for our generation, drugs are part of my generation. You just have to cope with it.”

Last year, a Gold Coast man appeared on the news channel Vice after revealing he was selling thousands of whipped cream chargers.

The Queensland Government has also continually warned schoolies about the dangers of behaving badly on balconies following a number of high-rise deaths on the party strip.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was sad to hear of Hamish’s death.

“I am so saddened to hear this young man’s life was cut short. My thoughts are with his family and friends,’ Ms Berejiklian said.

“I want to encourage everyone celebrating the end of their schooling to look after themselves and each other — nothing is more important.”

Counselling is being offered to fellow teens following the death.

Red Frogs co-ordinator Andy Gourley said the volunteer group was speaking with police, but declined to comment.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Originally published as Sports-mad Sydney teenager had ingested nitrous oxide, police sources say