Mr Giggles
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Drug link feared in nightclub collapse
By Ben Doherty
Tuesday, 20 July 2004
Illicit drug use may be linked to the deaths of two Canberra men on Sunday, one of whom collapsed in a popular Manuka nightclub.
In unrelated incidents, the two men died within hours of each other early on Sunday.
It appears both may have been affected by drugs at the time.
Post-mortem examinations, to be conducted this week, will include toxicology tests to detect drugs, police said yesterday.
About 4am Sunday, police were called to Minque nightclub in Manuka after a 33-year-old Jerrabomberra man collapsed.
The man was standing away from the dance floor, near a seating area, when he fell without warning.
It is understood the man had taken a tablet, believed to be ecstasy, earlier in the night.
There is no evidence the tablet was obtained or ingested at the club.
It is unclear whether the man had arrived at the club alone or with friends, but he was unaccompanied when he collapsed.
Manager of Minque Simon Chalmers said an ambulance had been called immediately, and the man had been placed in a recovery position.
Mr Chalmers also made the decision to close the nightclub.
Ambulance officers attempted to revive the man, who had been taken to a waiting ambulance, but he died before he could be transferred to Canberra Hospital.
About two hours before the incident at Minque, police were called to a house in Dixon Drive, Holder, where an injured 21-year-old man was found lying in a driveway.
Police were called to the street after residents reported hearing breaking glass.
Residents told The Canberra Times yesterday the man was using a screwdriver to break into a car parked in a driveway when he was disturbed by a dog at the house.
It is understood the man fled, taking a wallet and money, but fell as he ran past a driveway two doors down.
Police found the man sprawled unconscious on the driveway.
Police and ambulance officers worked to revive him but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Canberra Hospital. The exact cause of his death is not yet known.
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