A night meant for music and celebration turned tragic after the Dreamstate electronic music festival in Australia, where one man lost his life and six others were rushed to hospital following serious medical emergencies.
Police in New South Wales said officers were patrolling the event at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, February 7, when several attendees suddenly began suffering what authorities described as “medical episodes.” Emergency services were quickly called in as the situation escalated.
The festival, widely promoted online as the “ultimate trance and techno destination,” attracted thousands of fans with a high-profile lineup featuring Paul van Dyk, Vini Vici, Gareth Emery, Ben Nicky, and Giuseppe Ottaviani. A second day of the event was scheduled to take place the following day at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse.
According to police, the man who died at the Sydney venue was believed to be in his 40s. He had not been formally identified at the time of reporting. Of the six people hospitalized, one remained in critical condition, while others were treated for serious complications. Authorities confirmed that a report is being prepared for the coroner.
“A crime scene has been established, and police commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” New South Wales Police said in a statement.
Investigators believe the man may have suffered cardiac arrest, possibly linked to a suspected drug overdose. Police are also examining whether multiple festival-goers may have been affected by a mass drug-related incident during the event.
During the festival, organizers shared a warning on Instagram originally issued by Victoria’s health authorities, cautioning that high-dose MDMA capsules and pills were circulating in the area. Officials later confirmed that no pill-testing facilities were available at the event.
John Graham, Australia’s Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, acknowledged that pill testing was not offered but said organizers had followed existing government guidelines. “A safety action plan was in place,” he said, emphasizing that the event complied with current regulations.
A spokesperson for NSW Health added that several harm-reduction measures were operating at the festival, including on-site medical teams, health messaging, free chilled water, misting fans, designated chill-out zones, and support staff trained to respond to medical emergencies.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has renewed calls for stronger drug safety measures at large-scale music festivals, following One Dead and Six Hospitalized After Dreamstate Festival in Australia, a stark reminder of the risks that can accompany major live events.