Cruel trolls have been called out for attacking an aspiring DJ after he died of a suspected drug overdose at a weekend music festival.
Antony Maugeri, 20, was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital from the Pitch music festival, held near Ararat in south-west Victoria, about 1am on Sunday.
The up-and-coming DJ was one of three men taken to hospital after suffering suspected drug overdoses at the five-day festival.
Maugeri, from Melbourne, died shortly after being admitted to hospital.
AFL commentator Rohan Connolly has since hit out at cruel trolls who criticized Maugeri’s decision to allegedly take drugs at the event.
‘God it’s sad. What a tragic waste of young life, RIP to Antony and all who knew and loved him. As for some of the ‘heroes’ posting replies under @gillianlant’s post, you are in contempt,’ he wrote on X.
Maugeri, who was passionate about music, was reprimanded by some netizens who claimed he ‘should know better’.
Antony Maugeri, 20, died of a suspected drug overdose at the Pitch Music Festival on Sunday
AFL commentator Rohan Connolly has since hit out at cruel trolls who criticized Maugeri’s decision to allegedly take drugs at the event (pictured)
Organizers canceled the five-day festival citing extreme fire danger and heat wave conditions
‘Seems to be a very intelligent man, and should know better! Bad luck, bad choice…’ one man wrote on X.
‘Poor choices,’ commented another.
A third shared: ‘Quite simply, if you don’t take drugs you won’t die from them!’
Maugeri’s death has prompted renewed calls from the Victorian Greens to introduce pill testing at music festivals as a matter of urgency.
The Greens have called on Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to ‘shift gears and finally introduce pill testing’ to prevent further overdose deaths at events.
“How many more (suspected) overdoses have to happen in Victoria before the new Premier shifts gears and finally establishes pill testing in Victoria?” The Greens’ spokesman for drug harm reduction, Aiv Puglielli, said on Monday.
“As this Labor government continues to stall, young Victorian lives are being put at risk. Even with pure MDMA, we’ve seen how extreme heat can deliver a deadly blow. So with untested drugs in circulation, this really was a disaster waiting to happen.’
The festival went ahead with a changed schedule on Saturday night despite warnings from the National Fire Service on the day and prior to the event.
It was canceled on Sunday afternoon with organizers citing dangerous heatwave conditions and extreme fire danger, with thousands asked to leave on Monday.
However, many did not get the message due to poor reception in the area.
Maugeri’s death has prompted renewed calls from the Victorian Greens to introduce pill testing at music festivals as a matter of urgency
Maugeri’s best mate (right) remembered the aspiring DJ (left) as ‘the most loyal and caring human being’ in a heartbreaking post on social media
Organizers of Pitch Festival’ acknowledged Maugeri’s death on Sunday evening, taking to Instagram to say they are ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.
“We are devastated that this has happened at an event where the community has been a driving force over the past seven years,” the post read.
‘We understand the timing of this news will be disruptive to festival goers who are currently safely exiting the event.’
Maugeri’s best mate remembered the aspiring DJ as ‘the most loyal and caring human being’ in a heartbreaking post on social media.
‘Losing your best mate is something I never thought I’d have to prepare for,’ he wrote on Facebook.
‘It’s going to be hard to open my phone and not have a text from you every day, but I know you will watch over me (and) my family and the rest of our group of friends from above.
‘I am grateful for all the memories we have made over the years and I will cherish them forever.’
The festival, which started on Friday, was supposed to run until Tuesday.
The heat wave was upgraded from severe to extreme on Sunday and continues to affect the region, with authorities warning that conditions could worsen the health effects of drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy).
Revelers were warned a heatwave affecting the region (pictured) could exacerbate the negative effects of drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy)
The horse on revelers was spotted earlier this year at Melbourne’s Hardmission festival, where eight revelers were hospitalized after overdosing.
Ticket prices for the event ranged from $449 for a two-day pass up to $499 for a four-day pass. Camping and car passes came with an additional fee.
It remains unclear whether participants will be refunded for the canceled event, and organizers will issue a brief statement on Sunday.
‘We appreciate your patience as we work through this,’ it said.
‘Ticket holders will receive an update as more information becomes available.
‘Our top priority right now is to get everyone on the scene home safely.’