Seven festival-goers are fighting for their lives under induced comas after overdosing on illegal substances in Melbourne on Saturday.
They were rushed to hospitals from Hardmission Festival at Flemington Racecourse after taking what is believed to be the party drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
Victorian Ambulance Union spokesperson Danny Hill told the Herald Sun the festival saw “quite a number” overdoses, with many of them “critically unwell.”
He said the situation had become “dire” on Saturday night, with paramedics from other parts of Melbourne called to the festival to help around 10:30 pm.
The patients were taken to hospitals including Royal Melbourne, St Vincent’s, Footscray, Sunshine and The Austin, with the overdoses happening in the space of four hours.
“Seven of the patients had to be placed into an induced coma by our Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedics and a breathing tube placed into their throat, so they were fully sedated,” Mr Hill said.
“I think this highlights the dangers of some of the drugs that are passed around at rave parties and why there needs to be mechanisms to try and protect against them – it raises the issue of pill testing and pill checking.”
As a part of their safety measures, Hardmission Festival organisers announced on social media that volunteers from alcohol and drug harm reduction organisation DanceWize would attend the event.
“Your wellbeing is our priority. If you or someone you know needs assistance or support during the event, DanceWize will be on-site, ready to provide information, guidance and help with any harm reduction concerns,” the post on Friday read.