A tragic incident occurred at a popular music festival in Auckland, where a DJ, known as Simon Lee Garside or Deep South Audio, lost his life after consuming a deadly combination of drugs. The festival, Splore, held at Tapapakanga Regional Park, ended in tragedy for Garside in 2023.
Coroner Alison Mills has issued a stern warning following Garside’s death about the risks associated with drug use, especially when mixing different substances. Her findings revealed that Garside, a 46-year-old father, frequently attended music festivals with his partner to DJ and sell vintage clothing.
Garside’s partner mentioned that he dabbled in recreational drugs like MDMA and cocaine at these events, but his drug use was described as moderate. During the Splore festival in late February 2023, Garside reportedly consumed a mix of MDMA, cocaine, and ketamine, experiencing chest pains and headaches throughout the weekend.
Despite feeling unwell, Garside continued to partake in the festivities and even performed a DJ set on the final day of the festival. Tragically, he passed away shortly after checking into a hostel with his partner, having ingested a lethal combination of cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA.
The pathologist’s report confirmed that the fatal levels of these substances led to Garside’s demise, causing respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmia, and other severe symptoms. Coroner Mills emphasized the dangers of mixing stimulants like cocaine and MDMA, as well as the unpredictable nature of combining drugs like cocaine and ketamine.
Splore festival producer, Fryderyk Kublikowski, expressed the community’s sorrow over Garside’s death, acknowledging his contributions to the music scene. The festival has stringent drug policies, including drug testing facilities, to promote safety and harm reduction.
Overall, Garside’s untimely death serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with drug use, urging individuals to exercise caution and prioritize their well-being when attending such events.
