Covid ‘supercharge’ fears after Splendour in the Grass revellers forced to share water

Drenched revellers have revealed they had no option but to share small cans of water as they waited for six hours for buses.

A top doctor has warned of a “supercharge” in Covid cases after the disastrous Splendour in the Grass music festival.

Drenched revellers have revealed they had no option but to share small cans of water as they waited for six hours for buses to evacuate them from the sodden site.

Disappointed festivalgoers said they had to take small sips and pass the water back down the queue, raising fears that any illness could have been passed on.

“There was no food in the line. People were suffering,” a reveller called Tilly, from Sydney, said on TikTok.

“You couldn’t sit down because of how muddy it was. Not to mention the fact that everyone’s boots were just soaked.

“The only water that was there were these little cans that were being passed back so people literally had to take the tiniest sip and then pass it along.”

TikTok user Tilly said revellers were forced to share cans of water. Picture: TikTok

By Sunday, Tilly said she was feeling sick, with earache, headaches and nausea.

Dr Michael Bonning, President of the NSW Australian Medical Association, told Yahoo that sharing water at the festival could “supercharge” the latest Covid wave.

“Anytime you start sharing drinks you’re more likely to pass on all kinds of illnesses to one another,” he said.

“We often think about other conditions as well as Covid that are passed on that way because people are sharing very small amounts of bodily fluids, but with lots of different people. So all of that is a really relevant risk and concern.”

Dr Bonning added that many of the younger people who attended Splendour were less likely to have received a booster vaccination.

“We will supercharge through any of these kinds of events,” he said.

Huge crowds faced a lengthy wait for buses after the festival ended. Picture: TikTok

“We will continue to supercharge Covid cases at a time when we are asking people, with a very transmissible variant, to mask up, make sure they have had their booster and stay at home if unwell but many people have had their hearts set on going to Splendour.”
There were 10,725 new Covid cases recorded on Sunday, with seven deaths.

Experts fear the actual number of cases is far higher because not everyone with Covid is symptomatic or takes a test.

Splendour in the Grass co-founder Jess Ducrou told Triple J’s Hack on Monday that organisers “did the best we could” as floods turned the site into a quagmire.

Festivalgoers are seen in the rain and the mud at Splendour in the Grass (Photo by Marc Grimwade/WireImage)

The festival was forced to cancel all headline acts on Friday after relentless rain turned the site into a flooded marsh.

Rideshare prices skyrocketed as the festival closed its campgrounds and moved some revellers to nearby campsites.

“We were in a really difficult position,” Ms Ducrou said.

“We have insurance, we could have cancelled the entire event. So it wasn’t a financial decision for us to go forward.

“It was more about considering how long it had been since Splendour had happened. The fact that so many people had come into the area for it.

“And the fact so many people were relying on it and working for it.

“And it was a mixed bag, for sure. It certainly wasn’t what we hoped it would be.

“There were some great moments.”

Jordan Belyea and Rachel Johnston are seen in the mud at Splendour in the Grass (Photo by Marc Grimwade/WireImage)

Organisers said they were “so sorry” about the dire experience had by attendees desperate to get home at the end of Saturday night.

“We know last night’s journey home was sh***y for some of you. It usually takes some time to get everyone out of the venue, we’re so sorry you had that experience at Splendour,” a statement said.

“While it doesn’t excuse the delay, the fact is some of [the] buses we ordered didn’t show up and that had a significant impact.

“We’ve been on the phones all day to pull in as many additional transport options as we can. There will likely be wait times again tonight, but we will have extra measures in place to support you including toilets and water.

“We are doing our best to get you all home safe and as quickly as possible.”