hoptis
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- May 1, 2002
- Messages
- 11,083
Anger at drug taking, arrests and overdoses at rave
Grant McArthur
December 11, 2007 12:00am
A 5000-STRONG rave party at Kryal Castle turned into a war zone at the weekend when 14 people overdosed on drugs.
Doctors at Ballarat Base Hospital could barely cope with three party-goers needing full life support.
Another three could not be connected to breathing machines because the hospital simply did not have enough, leaving medicos to carry out exhaustive hands-on care.
Emergency department staff were threatened and assaulted as they treated eight other ravers who overdosed on ice, amphetamines and GHB.
More than 70 police and sniffer dogs attended Saturday night's Ultraworld Festival, organised by Hardware Corp and Killrockstar Entertainment.
More than 80 party-goers were dealt with by police, mostly for drug offences.
But Dr Nigel Beck, who was hired by organisers as a private medical officer, said the police presence did little to stop rampant drug taking.
"By the end people were getting carried in by their clothes, unconscious, chocking on their own vomit and we almost had one death out there," he said.
It was the second time this year that Kryal Castle caused a major headache for emergency services.
A dozen people were treated for drug overdoses during an event staged by the same organisers in February.
Ballarat Base Hospital head of emergency Dr Jaycen Cruickshank yesterday renewed calls for dance parties to be outlawed at the tourist park.
"Sooner or later someone will die from the drug taking out there," Dr Cruickshank said. "Secondly, my fear is that staff will get injured trying to deal with these violent patients."
Acting Inspector Michael Glenane said that police did not see rampant drug abuse but were worried by high detection rates.
Three people will be charged on summons for drug trafficking, while another 13 will be charged on summons with offences including possession and use of drugs, handling stolen goods and driving-related offences.
Another 36 will be directed into drug diversion programs, seven were issued with cannabis cautions, and nine were caught drug driving.
Event promoter Richie McNell refused to comment yesterday, saying he wanted to view reports from medical staff and ambulance officers.
But Kryal Castle joint owner Joyce Ryall defended the dance parties, held since 1996.
She said the number of overdoses was a small percentage of the crowd. "We had worse when there was jousting going on (in the 1970s). Back then people nearly lost their heads," she said.
"They hire the venue at Kryal Castle because it has a magical atmosphere and you can control the crowd because of the bluestone complete walls.
"They are not going to stop taking drugs, so where else are they going to go?"
Counselling and first-aid group Rave Safe said it was ordered not to attend by promoter Hardware Corporation.
Herald Sun