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| Audience member dies during opening night of Melbourne international comedy festival | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man watching a comedy gig has died after suffering a medical emergency in a packed theatre on the opening night of a major festival | A man watching a comedy gig has died after suffering a medical emergency in a packed theatre on the opening night of a major festival |
| The opening night of the Melbourne international comedy festival was abandoned after the death of an audience member. | The opening night of the Melbourne international comedy festival was abandoned after the death of an audience member. |
| The man suffered a medical emergency at the Palais theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night, festival organisers said. | The man suffered a medical emergency at the Palais theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night, festival organisers said. |
| The man was sitting at the back of the theatre and audience members attempted to give him CPR for about 10 minutes before paramedics arrived. | The man was sitting at the back of the theatre and audience members attempted to give him CPR for about 10 minutes before paramedics arrived. |
| Sources said the show continued until organisers were alerted to the emergency and the performance was stopped. | Sources said the show continued until organisers were alerted to the emergency and the performance was stopped. |
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| “Melbourne International Comedy Festival regrets to confirm that there was a medical emergency while the Opening Night Allstars Supershow was taking place this evening at the Palais Theatre,” the festival said in a statement. | “Melbourne International Comedy Festival regrets to confirm that there was a medical emergency while the Opening Night Allstars Supershow was taking place this evening at the Palais Theatre,” the festival said in a statement. |
| “The show was stopped and cancelled. The Festival will be in touch with all ticket holders.” | “The show was stopped and cancelled. The Festival will be in touch with all ticket holders.” |
| Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics responded to an emergency call about 8pm. | Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics responded to an emergency call about 8pm. |
| Victoria police said the death of the unidentified man is not being treated as suspicious. | Victoria police said the death of the unidentified man is not being treated as suspicious. |
| Comedians and audience members took to social media to express sorrow or concern about the how the incident was handled. | Comedians and audience members took to social media to express sorrow or concern about the how the incident was handled. |
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| “All performers thoughts are with the family affected,” Dave Hughes wrote. | “All performers thoughts are with the family affected,” Dave Hughes wrote. |
| The rest of the festival will continue as planned. | The rest of the festival will continue as planned. |
| Palais theatre operators Live Nation has been contacted for comment. | Palais theatre operators Live Nation has been contacted for comment. |