Spiros Boursinos had frenzied psychotic episode before bar death

The bizarre details of the death of Earthcore founder Spiros Boursinos in an Elsternwick bar have been revealed.

The scene of the deadly encounter at Antique Bar in Elsternwick. Picture: Ian Currie

The founder of outdoor dance festival Earthcore told a triple-0 operator “I’m about to get killed” amid a frenzied psychotic episode at an Elsternwick bar before he was pinned to the ground and died.

Spiros Boursinos — who also used the name Spiro Boursine — smashed a window with a bottle amid a crazed altercation with staff and patrons at Antique Bar.

Police responded to reports Mr Boursinos was trying to bottle people and stab them a broken wine glass.

The venue’s owner, a bar tender and patron wrestled the 45-year-old to the ground before officers arrested and handcuffed him.

But Mr Boursinos stopped breathing and couldn’t be revived.

The Coroners Court on Thursday heard Mr Boursinos — who had taken cocaine and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.04 — made five manic calls to triple-0 amid the chaos.

It’s understood he’d been fixated on an intoxicated patron walking in and out of the late-night venue.

Mr Boursinos pleaded with the triple-0 operator to alert police, screaming the Glen Huntly Road bar’s address over and over.

“I’m being attacked,’’ he said.

Spiros Boursinos, who died at a bar in Elsternwick

“I’m about to get f —king killed.

“I’m not going out there. Just call the police. Quick. Please. I’m getting attacked. Call the police.”

Mr Boursinos met a friend at the bar on October 19, 2018 about 6.30pm and later a business associate.

About 2am the next day they suddenly saw Mr Boursinos at the bar screaming: “They’re coming to get me. Call the police. Call the police.”

The psychotic episode went on for about 13 minutes before Mr Boursinos struck the window, was put in a headlock and forced to the ground.

The bar owner put his full force on Mr Boursinos’ back but he kept struggling for about 5 minutes before police arrived, the court heard.

They were concerned about positional asphyxia and moved Mr Boursinos, who was lying face down, to the recovery position as soon as he was handcuffed.

He was breathing and drifting in and out of consciousness.

Paramedics were called when Mr Boursinos stopped breathing and police commenced CPR but the Cheltenham man was pronounced dead just after 3am.

A post mortem found he died of coronary artery disease and mechanical asphyxia in a man who used cocaine.

Forensic Police at the scene Picture: Ian Currie

He had bruising as the result of pressure being applied to his neck.

Mr Boursinos — who had been battling business debts — had a history of drug-induced psychosis dating back to 2008.

Counsel assisting the coroner told the court Antique Bar was not required to have security guards or advanced staff training in how to deal with such patrons and it wouldn’t have included detail about how to safely restrain them anyway.

While staff were acting in good faith there was a clear gap in the skills and knowledge to manage such incidents and appropriately restrain patrons, the court heard.

Police handling of the incident was considered appropriate.

Sister Helen Politis, attending Thursday’s hearing via video link, told the court more should have been done to save her brother.

Facebook image of Spiros Boursinos, who died at a bar in Elsternwick in 2018.

“A cry for help is a cry for help,’’ she said.

“It’s a basic human right that was not afforded to Sprio when he needed it.

“It doesn’t matter he was psychotic. It doesn’t matter he has drugs in him. He did not get the help when he needed it. Because if he got it when he needed it he’d still be here with us today.”

Brother Steven Boursinos, also appearing via video, told the court venue owners should take more responsibility in getting urgent medical help for patrons.

“I feel that our society seems to be lacking compassion. We seem to have jumped to a point in time where we are not appreciating our humanity,’’ he said.

“It seems to be all a bad American movie. If Australia as a nation could embrace humanity I feel that Sprios’ death would not have occurred.”

Coroner Jacqui Hawkins will deliver a written finding.