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Mutiny festival cancelled over 'dangerous substance' as two die on site Mutiny festival deaths: mother of Georgia Jones, 18, describes her heartbreak
(about 7 hours later)
A music festival in Portsmouth has been cancelled after an 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man died after falling ill on Saturday night. A woman whose 18-year-old daughter died “after taking two pills” at a music festival in Hampshire has described her heartbreak as organisers cancelled the event and warned that a “dangerous high strength” batch of drugs appeared to have been in circulation.
The deaths at the Mutiny festival are being seen as separate incidents and are not being treated as suspicious, but Hampshire police said inquiries were being made to determine the circumstances. In an appeal to other young people to avoid taking drugs, Janine Milburn said her daughter Georgia Jones was one of two people to die at the Mutiny festival in Portsmouth. In a Facebook tribute she said “my little girl was 18 and full of life” and asked people to share her post, adding: “I just hope this stops at least some of you from ending up the same … the more people that know the more she can hopefully save.”
Dizzee Rascal, Craig David and Sean Paul were due to top the bill at the two-day event. But on Sunday organisers issued a statement cancelling the event after warning of a “dangerous high strength or bad batch substance on site”. Her post, which said the teenager had suffered a fit after taking the pills, followed a statement from Queen Alexandra hospital that the two deaths on Saturday night were believed to be related to drugs. The other victim was a 20-year-old man. Another person remains in critical condition, the hospital said.
The announcement, which organisers said was a “safety precaution”, prompted demands for refunds from disappointed customers on social media. The second day of the festival, when Dizzee Rascal, Craig David and Sean Paul were due to top the bill, was cancelled by organisers on Sunday in a statement warning of a “dangerous high strength or bad batch substance on site”.
Police were first alerted when the woman fell ill at the site on Cosham at 7.10pm on Saturday, while the man was found collapsed at 7.30pm. In total 15 festivalgoers attended hospital on Saturday night, although the admissions were “not necessarily all drugs-related”, the hospital said.
Both were taken to the Queen Alexandra hospital where they later died. Police said next-of-kin for both people been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. The deaths were being seen as separate incidents and were not being treated as suspicious, but Hampshire police said inquiries were being made to determine the circumstances.
The force had said it would be clamping down on drugs before the event, saying it would search bags on entrance and adding: “Controlled drugs and psychoactive substances are not permitted”.
The decision to cancel the second day, which organisers said was a “safety precaution”, prompted demands for refunds from disappointed customers on social media.
Police were first alerted when Georgia Jones fell ill at the site on Cosham at 7.10pm on Saturday, while the man was found collapsed at 7.30pm.
Both were taken to the Queen Alexandra hospital where they later died. Police said next-of-kin for both people had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers.
A statement posted on the music festival’s social media accounts said: “Mutiny Festivals are devastated to hear of the tragic loss of life from its festival family today.”A statement posted on the music festival’s social media accounts said: “Mutiny Festivals are devastated to hear of the tragic loss of life from its festival family today.”
It later added: “Following the terrible news from earlier today, the team behind Mutiny Festival are incredibly sad to announce that the Sunday of the festival has been cancelled as a safety precaution.It later added: “Following the terrible news from earlier today, the team behind Mutiny Festival are incredibly sad to announce that the Sunday of the festival has been cancelled as a safety precaution.
“The safety of our amazing customers has always been paramount to us and so to keep everyone safe and in respect to those who have passed, we have taken the decision not to open today.“The safety of our amazing customers has always been paramount to us and so to keep everyone safe and in respect to those who have passed, we have taken the decision not to open today.
“As you can imagine, this decision was not taken lightly and was taken with the support of the local statutory authorities who we continue to work with.”“As you can imagine, this decision was not taken lightly and was taken with the support of the local statutory authorities who we continue to work with.”
The organisers also urged customers to “responsibly dispose” of any substances.The organisers also urged customers to “responsibly dispose” of any substances.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
The force said next-of-kin for both the woman and the man had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers.
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