AviciiCanadian emergency personnel were left "overwhelmed" by the number of people requiring medical attention for illnesses related to alcohol and/or drug consumption following an all-ages Avicii gig in Toronto, The Toronto Star has reported.
Saturday night's performance by the renowned Swedish DJ was being staged at the city's Rogers Centre in front of an audience of about 20,000, but officials say that 29 is nonetheless an "unusually" high number of patrons to require medical assistance of an evening, putting sufficient-enough pressure on the in-house medics to require external emergency services personnel to be called in to assist.
According to the Star, one person has been arrested on drug charges, with another being treated for drug-induced symptoms at the gig, but the "vast majority" of cases were related to alcohol intake, with paramedics saying that the wave of afflicted audience members began to roll in before Avicii had even taken the stage.
Five people were left in a serious condition, but were expected to make a full recovery.
"Unfortunately we have a few kids…excessive alcohol and partying and they can't handle it,” EMS commander Peter Rotolo said, according to Canadian station CTV. “There's a lot of people here and a few don't spoil it for the rest.”
Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, however, sees things a little differently, squarely pointing the finger at promoter Ink Entertainment in a statement released on Sunday.
"This only proves that it doesn't matter whether these events are held on privately owned or government lands, they are dangerous events to hold as 'all-ages,' allowing kids to be present," he said.
