EXCLUSIVE
A devastated loved one has relived the panicked last words of a festival goer who collapsed and fell dead after attending an electronic music festival this weekend.
Jason Lee, 26, became unwell and called his girlfriend Julia An at the Knockout Outdoor festival at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday.
The pair last spoke at 11:44 p.m. Moments later he collapsed.
‘His last breath was used to tell me that he would send his location and come look for him. Unfortunately, he didn’t get past that point and collapsed on his own,” she said..
Jason Lee, 26, died on Saturday after attending an electronic dance festival in Sydney
‘After hours of trying to locate him, I received a call saying he was in hospital in a critical condition. When his mother and sister arrived there, he was already dead.’
Mr Lee, who died at Concord Hospital, was one of two people who died after attending the hard dance music festival.
Police are investigating whether Mr Lee had used drugs before his death.
Another festivalgoer, 21, later collapsed at a Chippendale hotel and died after being rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital.
Chief Inspector Simon Glasser said police were waiting for autopsy reports before concluding how the men died.
“It is not being specifically treated as a suspected drug overdose,” Detective Inspector Simon Glasser told reporters on Sunday.
‘We are looking at all possibilities. Anything could have happened.
Although police would not confirm the deaths were drug overdoses, Chief Inspector Glasser warned of the dangers of using illegal substances.
“This shows that people can die at music festivals,” he said.
Mr Lee was one of two men who died after attending the Knockout Outdoor Festival (pictured) at Sydney Olympic Park
‘Drugs can have terrible consequences. If you combine that with yesterday’s heat, it is an additional risk factor that can have adverse consequences.’
Ms An described Mr Lee as the “most loyal friend, son (and) brother” and said he supported his single mother who has health problems.
She said he was the “type of guy who would pull the shirt off his back” for anyone in need.
“Anyone who was lucky enough to be his friend knows he was the most stand-up guy,” she said.
“He always cared for other people, was considerate of them, listened and put others before him.”
She said that Mr. Lee “never shared his burdens” and even in his final moments “he could hardly ask for help.”
Ms An said Mr Lee had only recently celebrated his 26th birthday, with his family planning a funeral.
She called on the community and everyone touched by Mr Lee’s “unique presence” to help his family with the financial costs of laying him to rest.
“Jason touched the lives of so many people, and I’m sure everyone who was his friend would agree,” she said.
Mr Lee was pictured with his boyfriend Joey Hungg on his birthday celebration five weeks ago
“Like Jason, his mother is trying to figure things out on her own.
‘No one should see their child going in front of them.’
The GoFundMe reached its $35,000 goal within 24 hours of launch, raising $36,411 as of Monday morning.
Meanwhile, friends have flocked online to pay tribute to the young man whose life was tragically cut short.
Joey Hungg said she woke up Sunday with a “nightmare.”
‘I’m in shock and still can’t believe this is real. Jason, I am so grateful to have known you and grateful for the memories we made.
“Thank you for being there for me every time I needed you.
‘I never thought I would have to say goodbye so quickly and I really don’t want to.
“I miss you so much already panda.”
Friend Michel Fu-Strelnikov said words could not express Mr Lee’s “kindness, compassion and generosity towards everyone around him.”
“Jason was family and left an indelible mark on all of us. “He had a heart of gold and selflessly always put the needs of others before his own,” she said.
About 53,000 people attended the Knockout Outdoor festival on Saturday
“The memories will be forever etched in our hearts and as we mourn we will also celebrate the beautiful life he lived.”
Joanna Wei described Jason as a “gentle giant” who had the “most beautiful soul.”
“He always had so much love and time for the people around him and wouldn’t think twice about going to the ends of the world for them,” she said.
“On one of our last phone calls, he mentioned that he was only a year away from college and that he was so excited to graduate. He was constantly trying to improve himself, not for himself, but because he wanted to provide for his family and spoil his friends.”
The double tragedy comes as the summer festival season kicked off this weekend, with Sydney hosting the Knockout Festival and Listen Out at Centennial Park.
More than seventy people were charged with drug offenses at both festivals.
About 85 of the 27,500 people who attended Listen Out were reportedly caught with drugs, according to NSW Police.
Meanwhile, the Knockout Outdoor festival attracted 53,000 people, 27 of whom were charged with drug possession and four with supplying illegal substances.
In the wake of the deaths, partygoers have come online to report a bad batch of drugs circulating in Sydney.
Pictured: Drugs reportedly seized by officers at the festivals this weekend
“(I) had noticed that the quality is more crap than usual, but that suppliers also market drugs to make a profit, and things like that happen because our government refuses to allow pill testing,” one person wrote. .
In a statement on Sunday, NSW Police insisted the men did not die at the festivals, but later in the evening.
‘Officers attached to the Auburn Police Area Command responded just before 1am (Sunday 1 October 2023) to Sydney Olympic Boulevarde, Sydney Olympic Park, where NSW Ambulance paramedics were treating a man.
“The 26-year-old was taken to Concord Hospital, where he died,” the initial statement read.
‘The police were called to St Vincent’s Hospital around 1am today (Sunday, October 1, 2023) following the death of a man.’
‘The 21-year-old man was reportedly treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at a hotel on George Street, Sydney, before being taken to hospital where he died.’
Detectives will investigate both cases and autopsies will be conducted to determine how the men died.
Reports will be prepared for the coroner.