Most of the affected suffering from a suspected overdose on GHB, and reports of a synthetic version being ingested have also surfaced. The local hospitals were “overwhelmed by the number of patients” as the night went on, having to spread them out between multiple nearby hospitals.
Paramedics rushed 21 people from the festival grounds, and some of those patients are now being reported as in critical condition. When asked about the incident, Commander Paul Horman of Ambulance Victoria stated: “There is a potential always that with people that are taking illicit drugs and substances, there’s a risk they’re going to die. That we haven’t seen that tonight is probably good luck more than anything else.”
17 revellers taken to hospital after attending #ElectricParade music festival at Sidney Myer Music Bowl https://t.co/mofpdPHnKS pic.twitter.com/EMIGUwzJBd
— Herald Sun (@theheraldsun) February 18, 2017
Breaking: Paramedics have treated at least 20 people for “substance abuse” at Electric Parade event at Sidney Myer Music Bowl @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/2ECllJYQ8j
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) February 18, 2017
H/T Huffington Post