Two people are dead and another two remain in hospital fighting for their life after suspected drug overdoses at a notorious electronic music festival.
Police have formed Strike Force Highworth to investigate the deaths of a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, who died after collapsing at the Defqon music festival in Sydney’s West, in Penrith at about 9pm on Saturday night.
Emergency services stationed at the festival, held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre responded to multiple reports of suspected drug overdoses throughout the day.
Two people are dead and another two remain in hospital fighting for their life after suspected drug overdoses at a notorious electronic music festival
Over 700 people at the event sought assistance from medical professionals at the event, which had medical tents stationed across the venue.
The two young people collapsed at the festival and were both taken to Nepean Hospital where they died a short time later.
Another 26-year-old woman from Jamisontown remains there in a critical condition.
Police have formed Strike Force Highworth to investigate the deaths of a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, who died after collapsing at the Defqon music festival
A 19-year-old man from Artarmon was airlifted to Westmead Hospital, also in a critical condition. He remains in intensive care.
Police allege an additional 13 people attended Nepean Hospital for drug-related issues during and after the festival.
Police conducted 355 drug searches throughout the day. Of this, 69 people were allegedly found to be in possession of drugs.
Defqon is an annual music festival held in the Netherlands and Australia which typically plays hardstyle related genres such as hardcore techno, hard house and hard trance
Ten of those people were charged with drug supply offences.
A 22-year-old man from Bankstown was found with 20 packets of GHB and was charged with attempting to supply a prohibited drug. He is expected to front court on Sunday.
A 33-year-old man and 27-year-old man were also charged with supplying MDMA and illegal substances and are both due in court on Sunday.
Police presence was strong throughout the day, with police calling their approach a ‘multi-faceted operation’
All three men were refused bail at Parramatta Bail Court.
Another two teenager girls, aged 17, were charged with supplying after they were allegedly caught carrying 120 capsules internally.
Two more men and three more women were charged with offences relating to MDMA, cocaine and ecstasy.
Police presence was strong throughout the day, with police calling their approach a ‘multi-faceted operation’, involving the Nepean PAC, Police Transport Command, Enforcement Squad and the Police Dog Unit.
An investigation is currently ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.
Police urge anybody with information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.