'We Owe Them A Proper Investigation': Inquest Into NSW Music Festival Deaths Commences

An inquest into a number of drug-related deaths at festivals across New South Wales has begun in Sydney this week. 

The inquest, which commenced this morning at the NSW Coroner's Court in Lidcombe, will investigate the deaths of 19-year-old Alex Ross-King who died from a suspected overdose at FOMO Festival in Sydney in January, Justin Tam, 22, who ingested an "unknown substance" at Lost Paradise festival in December, Callum Brosnan, 19, who died from a suspected overdose at Sydney's Knockout Games Of Destiny dance party in December, Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, who attended the Defqon event in Penrith last September and Nathan Tran who attended the Knockout Games Of Destiny event in December 2017.

As The Daily Telegraph reports, Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame addressed the families of the deceased in court saying, “These are your children but they could just as easily be the children of my own community or my own family.

“They could be any young people who go to music festivals and partake in drugs as many young people do.

“These are our young people... and we owe them a proper investigation of the circumstances in which they died.”

Discussions to introduce pill testing are expected to be raised at the inquest this week, while Dr David Caldicott is also expected to appear.

It comes after a second trial conducted at Groovin The Moo in Canberra this past April was deemed a success by CEO of Ted Noffs Foundation, Matt Noffs, who told The Music that early data suggested that seven samples tested on the day found to be deadly were discarded.  

"All in all, the second pilot has shown that this needs to be available at every Australian festival," Noffs said.