Three taken to hospital over suspected drug overdoses as Sydney music festivals
Several people have been taken to hospital with suspected drug overdoses from two music festivals in Sydney's east on Saturday amid dozens of festivalgoers being found with drugs.
Five people were taken to hospital from the two music festivals on Saturday evening, with drugs suspected as a factor in three cases, according to a spokeswoman from NSW Health.
A 24-year-old woman was taken to Prince of Wales hospital from the Electric Gardens music festival and was being treated, and is not in a critical condition.
A man aged in his twenties was taken to St Vincent's hospital from in a serious but stable condition.
A 26-year-old man was taken to St Vincent's from Hardcore Til I Die festival in Homebush in a stable condition.
Two women aged 61 and 67 woman were also taken from the festival to St Vincent's Hospital in stable conditions. Their conditions were believed to be heat-related, the spokeswoman for NSW Health said.
At 6.30pm, 24 people from the Electric Gardens festival had been charged with drug possession offences, while two will face charges for drug supply offences, police confirmed.
A further 18 people were given Court Infringement Notices for drug possession, under new legislation allowing police to provide on-the-spot fines instead of criminal charges for small amounts of drugs.
Police also handed out an additional six cannabis cautions and one youth caution by 6.30pm, just halfway through the music festival at Centennial Park.
The festivals will continue on Sunday with a third, Rolling Loud, kicking off on Sunday afternoon at Sydney Olympic Park.
NSW health has increased safety measures at each festival, with critical care doctors, nurses and paramedics on site assisting partygoers with health incidents.