Face of Nation : The co-founder of a NSW music festival where a young Brisbane man died has told an inquest he is sorry for not reaching out to the man’s family sooner. Joshua Tam, 22, died of complications from using MDMA at Central Coast festival Lost Paradise in December 2018. Mr Tam is among six young people whose recent MDMA-related deaths at NSW music festivals is subject of a NSW inquest.
The co-founder and promoter of Lost Paradise Simon Beckingham spoke with Mr Tam’s family on Monday before the day’s hearing at the NSW Coroner’s Court in Lidcombe but says he should have reached out to Mr Tam’s family sooner.
“The truth is I wasn’t sure whether they wanted to talk to me,” Mr Beckingham told the inquest. “In hindsight, I should have reached out a lot sooner. And I apologise for that,” he said. “I think what’s happened is absolutely tragic. It must be absolutely devasting.
“I hope you know it’s been a very tragic time for us as well.”
Mr Tam’s mother Julie Tam said it was “very difficult” for the family that they didn’t hear from Mr Beckingham but she felt a lot better after speaking to him.
“I’ve come to learn myself during this time of grief, even with friends, some people are able to lean in and others lean back, they don’t know what to do,” Ms Tam told reporters outside the court on Monday.
While Mr Beckingham was uncertain whether the family wanted to hear from him, despite what the response would have been “the decent thing” would have been for him to reach out, she said.
“He was accepting of that and I was very pleased with our conversation.”
Friends of Mr Brosnan, who died after attending Knockout Games of Destiny festival in December 2018, and those who treated him, are among those expected to come before Tuesday’s hearing.
