Melbourne – More than 20 people were hospitalised, many in a critical condition, after overdosing on drugs at a Melbourne dance music festival on Saturday night, Australian media has reported.
Paramedics treated 25 revellers at the Electric Parade Music Festival at the city's Sidney Myer Music Bowl, with 22 of them then transported to various hospitals around Melbourne, local broadcaster Channel 9 reported.
Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman said the event was "awash with drugs" and there was a serious risk of death.
"That we haven't seen that tonight is probably good luck rather than anything else," he told reporters early on Sunday.
"It's the highest number of overdoses we have seen at a music event for some time."
The majority of those who had overdosed had taken the drug GHB, Holman said.
Police also arrested 40 people at the festival, including 33 men and seven women, while two were given cannabis cautions, according to national broadcaster ABC.
One man was charged after being found with ecstasy, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, ketamine and hash in his possession.
The dance party heads north to Sydney on Sunday.