Eight people left in critical condition following suspected drug overdose at Melbourne’s Hardmission Festival

January 8, 2024

Eight people are in a critical condition following a suspected ecstasy overdose at the Melbourne rave - Hardmission Festival - on Saturday night.

Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedics working at the Hardmission Festival, which took place at Flemington, treated the patients before they were transported to several hospitals including Sunshine Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Austin Hospital, Footscray Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital.

Victorian Ambulance Union General Secretary Danny Hill described the situation at the event “Seven 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.”

As reported in the ABC, Ambulance Victoria were short-staffed on the night and had to send out a text message to get additional paramedics to assist.

Hill notes “they had to bring paramedics in from other parts of the city to assist with it – it shows how dire the situation was.

"It's quite a high-level treatment that our paramedics perform and it's reserved for our most time-critical patients and patients in life-threatening health conditions.

"It's probably quite rare that we would see this amount of people needing such aggressive treatment."

In a statement, Victoria Police said it was "not aware of any critical health incidents during the event however are now making enquiries and an investigation has commenced".

It’s believed those at the festival had overdosed on methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as MDMA.

Photos and videos shared on social media show crowds partying at the electronic music event, as temperatures rose to 32C with social media posts shared by the Herald Sun also including an image taken from video footage of a partygoer holding up his phone with the word “CAPS?” on the screen.

Ahead of the festival, Hardmission Festival organisers shared a post on social media announcing volunteers from DanceWize, and alcohol and drugs harm reduction program would be on-site at the festival.

Hill told ABC that the overdoses at the Hardmission Festival highlighted the need for better drug education "whether it's pill checking or pill testing. It's no secret that these drugs circulate at rave parties.

"Often there are a lot of other chemicals and other medications mixed in with it and clearly whatever people have taken have had quite a negative effect. It's just deadly.

"These drugs aren't made in a batch of seven or eight so it's terrifying to think that these drugs are out there and could do enormous harm to a lot of other people."

Pill testing is not currently available in Victoria.

A Victorian government spokesperson said there were no current plans to trial pill testing adding "any overdose or adverse health outcome as the result of illegal drugs is distressing, and we send our thoughts to the families and loved ones affected this weekend."

The Victorian Government says it allocates $21 million per year towards harm reduction activities, including engaging with attendees at festivals and nightclubs.

Image top: Hardmission Festival. Source: Instagram; Image above: Footage shows a partygoer holding up a phone with the word ‘CAPS?’. Caps is used to describe a broad range of illegal drugs in capsules. Source: Social media

13th February 2023 - Man dies from suspected drug overdose after attending Sydney’s Transmission Festival

29th September 2022 - Looking forward to return of concerts Auckland Stadiums advise of new approach to recreational drugs

11th December 2019 - NSW Government to introduce drug amnesty bins but no pill testing at music festivals

16th July 2019 - Music festival deaths inquest hears presence of Police dogs led to panicked drug-taking

13th July 2019 - Inquest hears of multiple failings by organisers and Police over festival drug deaths

16th June 2019 - Five charged for supplying drugs at music festival at Sydney Olympic Park

30th May 2019 - Following 2018 drug deaths Defqon.1 festival now ‘postponed indefinitely’

31st January 2019 - Police say Rainbow Serpent Festival ‘hijacked’ by organised drug dealers

20th January 2019 - NSW Government to require licensing of music festivals after drug deaths

19th September 2018 - NSW Premier announces panel to look into drug issues at music festivals

16th September 2018 - NSW Premier vows to ban Sydney music festival after drug deaths

29th November 2015 - Woman dies at Sydney Stereosonic music festival as 70 face drug charges

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.