Tests reveal snake venom in tragic Beyond The Valley music festival reveller’s system

The heartbroken family of a young man who died after attending a music festival in Victoria have revealed he was likely bitten by a tiger snake at the event, throwing into doubt initial reports from authorities that he suffered a drug overdose.

Callum Edwards at his year 12 graduation. Picture: Supplied

The long chats will be what Callum Edwards’ heartbroken mother will miss most.

“We’d talk for hours just about life, what we both thought about the future,” Lynette Edwards said of her son, 20, known in the family as a deep thinker and joker.

His family is convinced the La Trobe University politics and history student had a promising future as a teacher, politician or academic.

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Callum Edwards was the class clown and a born entertainer who loved a trip to the pub for a parma with his mates. Picture: Supplied

But those hopes have been ended in tragic, and mysterious, circumstances.

Callum had been supposed to meet elder brother Liam, 21, at the Beyond The Valley music festival in Lardner, Gippsland, on December 29.

But by the time Liam arrived, a critically ill Callum had already been flown to hospital.

“I was planning to see him there that day and it was only when I got there I heard he had been flown out,” Liam said.

Callum died in hospital with his family by his side. “We were with Cal the whole time,” his mum said. “We were with him until the end.”

Initial reports suggested his death was a suspected overdose, but it has emerged that those treating him in hospital found venom in his system.

“Tiger snake venom was found in his system,” Liam told the Herald Sun. Ms Edwards said: “We definitely know there was a reptile involved.”

Brothers Callum, Liam and Lachlan Edwards at the footy. Picture: Supplied

The circumstances of Callum’s death are not yet fully understood, and police are preparing a report for the coroner.

Ms Edwards remembered on Wednesday that Callum would always take time to chat with her, even on his way home from a night out with mates. She said: “We would have really good long chats and I will miss those things the most.

“He just thinks about everything, which was great as his family or his friends, because he would encourage you to think as well and not just accept things for what they were.

“We will miss that brain.”

But Callum was also the class clown and a born entertainer who loved a trip to the pub for a parma with his mates.

“He always went into these fun times just looking for the fun element in life,” his mother said. “In primary school he would be the one up the front making the mums laugh.

“He was unique.”

A young Callum Edwards at the footy. Picture: Supplied

Locals in Mansfield, where Callum was born and raised, have rallied around the grieving family. Liam said: “There’s been a lot of support from the whole community. Lots of people have been very kind to us, and very thoughtful.”

Last week, a group of Callum’s friends went to the Edwards home to grieve with parents Malcolm and Lynette and brothers Liam and Lachlan, 17.

Next week, the family will “go to the ocean somewhere and spend some time together”, Ms Edwards said.

“It will be bizarre not to have Callum with us.”

Hundreds of friends and family are expected at the ­funeral in Mansfield on Thursday.

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