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Concert-goers fall ill at Hardwell gig in Belfast's Odyssey | Concert-goers fall ill at Hardwell gig in Belfast's Odyssey |
(35 minutes later) | |
Dozens of young people have been treated by paramedics after becoming ill at a concert venue in Belfast. | |
Fifteen people were taken to two hospitals to be treated for the effects of drugs and alcohol. | |
No-one was seriously injured. Thousands of people were at Dutch DJ Hardwell's concert at the Odyssey Arena. | |
A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesman said many of those treated by paramedics were already intoxicated when they arrived at the venue. | |
John McPoland said: "We believe the majority arrived suffering from too much alcohol. | John McPoland said: "We believe the majority arrived suffering from too much alcohol. |
"We declared a major incident because of the number of resources we had to deploy to the scene." | "We declared a major incident because of the number of resources we had to deploy to the scene." |
A police spokesman said a number of young people, "believed to be in excess of 20", were treated inside the venue. He said police enquiries were continuing. | |
A spokesman for the Odyssey Arena, Adrian Doyle, said: "It is our understanding that a number of patrons arriving to attend a concert by Dutch DJ act Hardwell have required medical attention, having already been intoxicated on their arrival at the complex. | A spokesman for the Odyssey Arena, Adrian Doyle, said: "It is our understanding that a number of patrons arriving to attend a concert by Dutch DJ act Hardwell have required medical attention, having already been intoxicated on their arrival at the complex. |
"These patrons were not granted entry to the Odyssey Arena, and were treated by the Ambulance Service outside." | "These patrons were not granted entry to the Odyssey Arena, and were treated by the Ambulance Service outside." |
Dr Tony Stephens of the Belfast Health Trust said the 15 patients who had been admitted to the Royal Victoria and Mater Hospitals' emergency departments were in a stable condition. | |
"We really don't know what to expect - we understand there were 10,000 people at the concert and while there were a number of people unwell at the scene, the suggestion is we may be receiving more patients as the night goes on," he said. | |
Belfast Health Trust has set up an emergency telephone number for people concerned about friends or relatives: 028 9063 8131. | |
Among those attending the concert was Scott McBride, who said a number of people were being sick as he arrived at the venue. | |
"Everywhere you looked, you were guaranteed to see someone who was ill or on their way," he said. | |
"One of the guys in particular I saw was sitting in his own vomit against a wall and struggling to keep his eyes straight." |