Face of Nation : An aspiring police officer described as a “quiet young man” was discovered “thrashing around violently” and making a “deep grunting sound” before he died of an MDMA overdose.
The court heard he bought four caps, put it in a water bottle and shared it around with his mates. It was a hot day, with the mercury hitting 28C.
Shortly after, his mates said he appeared “lovey dovey” as he was smiling and with “wide eyes” but they then lost him.
Today, the inquest heard how an unknown female festival-goer approached him as she “believed he was behaving erratically”.
She told security guards about her concerns, who approached the teenager at about 10.15pm but he ran away.
The court witnessed distressing CCTV footage of Mr Tran’s movements — which shows him running away from security guards, falling over and hitting his head on a concrete surface.
Andrew Bennett, a paramedic who was working for Event Medical Services — which was contracted by the event’s organisers — said when he first saw the teenager, he was being restrained.
“I asked a security guard what happened because I could see him (Mr Tran) thrashing arms and legs… and there was a deep grunting sound,” he said.
“Given his aggression, I didn’t want to get too close.”
Mr Bennett said he was aware the noise may have been an adverse reaction to a drug.
He said he asked the teenager basic questions but there was no response.
A team of four police officers restrained the teenager and pinned him to the ground, holding him down with a head lock.
He was handcuffed and given a sedative. His breathing was quick and shallow and he had a very high body temperature.
Paramedics arrived and used ice packs and removed his clothes to cool him down.
Mr Tran was restrained by police and carried off for treatment at the EMS on-site medical tent at 10.33pm, eventually being taken to Westmead Hospital.
Emergency doctor at the hospital, Christopher Cheeseman, told the court Mr Tran was brought in at 11.30pm that night.
He said he was told the teenager was “chased by police” and was suffering from a “possible seizure and possible head injury”.
He said the teenager was “critically unwell” when he arrived and died in hospital despite resuscitation attempts.
Earlier this week, the court heard the aspiring police officer’s death came as a “big shock” to his family.
On Monday, Counsel Assisting Peggy Dwyer told the court: “MDMA can cause people to act irrationally and out of character”.
An autopsy found MDMA toxicity as the cause of death.
