THERMAL cameras could be used to analyse the body temperatures of patrons to determine whether they need medical help at a Sydney festival where a young woman overdosed on MDMA, an inquest has been told.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Central Coast teenager Alex Ross-King died after taking a cocktail of MDMA caps, alcohol and energy drinks on the day of FOMO Sydney in January.
An inquest into her death was told on Thursday the event's free water wasn't chilled and its dedicated chill-out zones had only a few fans, despite temperatures reaching 33C in the shade by mid-afternoon.
FOMO Sydney's freelance event manager Holly Gazal said the 2020 event may use "thermal and other non-obtrusive imaging and technology" entry gates to help identify patrons with high temperatures - a symptom of MDMA use.
She said the festival organisers were also considering several options including making chilled water available for free at shaded stations and spraying jets of water over mosh pits to help keep body temperatures in check.
"The promoter is very open and willing to finding solutions to address it," Ms Gazal told the inquest.
She admitted it was inevitable drugs would enter the event despite efforts to work closely with police to avoid it happening.
- IN OTHER NEWS: Teens put abortion law on agenda in Newcastle
The inquest has examined the 2019 event's harm-reduction measures, hearing event staff scrambled to find fans for the Red Cross Save-A-Mate chill-out spaces on the day. Three fans hired and delivered to the venue were identified as "missing" as the event got under way about 11am, so staff were sent to Bunnings, Ms Gazal said.
Later, a medical tent took one fan for patients, leaving patrons in chill-out zones to share two fans.
"I did ask if we need to get more and (Save-A-Mate organiser Jessica Surkitt) said 'no, we will make it work'," Ms Gazal said.
- IN OTHER NEWS: Brazen thief steals Batman's armour
Ms Surkitt later told police there weren't an adequate number of fans and the main chill-out space was at capacity (40 people) from 1pm until 9pm, the inquest has been told.
Ms Ross-King's mother on Wednesday afternoon urged the NSW Premier to help make Australia a world leader in harm minimisation.
"Ensure no other parent, brother, sister, family or friend must ever endure the unmeasurable anguish we have," she told reporters outside court.
The inquest continues.
