Vilvoorde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) -A 17-year-old girl experienced health problems at the Horst Arts & Music Festival in Vilvoorde due to combining alcohol and drug consumption. Semi-professional staff members at the festival put the teenage volunteer’s life at risk through hospital transport.
A 17-year-old volunteer performing duties at the Horst Arts & Music Festival in Vilvoorde required hospitalisation due to serious effects from alcohol and drugs. The incident took place during the festival’s second night at midnight, when healthcare professionals immediately identified the severity of her medical state. Festival organisers verified the girl’s critical medical condition but stated she did not need to undergo a process of resuscitation. Medical staff allowed her to leave the hospital in stable condition.
“She was in mortal danger for a moment but did not need to be resuscitated,”
Says organiser Jochem Daelman.
“Luckily, she is now stable and was allowed to leave the hospital.”
An initial investigation shows that the girl was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“It was about experimenting with alcohol and drugs, which went wrong. We find this incident very regrettable. In our 11-year existence, we have only experienced a limited number of drug-related incidents. We pay a lot of attention to this.”
The 17-year-old was part of a scout group that worked at the campsite.
“We will contact the girl and the scout group today,”
the organisation says.
“Not only to inform them but also to support them emotionally. An incident like this leaves its mark on young people.”
“On Friday, the first aid post was very busy, with just over 200 interventions. Partygoers came by with blisters, abrasions or allergies. In addition, there were also a few drug-related interventions, but not as bad as with the 17-year-old girl.”
What prior incidents have occurred at music festivals involving drugs and alcohol in Belgium?
Today’s most recognisable exhibition of electronic music takes place through Tomorrowland, which annually welcomes music lovers to Boom, Antwerp province. Multiple drug-related events have occurred throughout the history of Tomorrowland since its initial launch.
According to reports by Brussels Times, two individuals lost their lives because of drugs during the festival, which took place across two weekends in 2023 – a 35-year-old Thai visitor and a 26-year-old festival staff member. Drug-related deaths at Tomorrowland number four of six festival fatalities that occurred during eleven years. Multiple tragic occurrences at Belgian festivals have created a new demand for improved prevention strategies as well as harm reduction and enforcement initiatives.
Belgian health authorities, together with festival organisers, have established different harm-reduction methods to address these persistent issues. According to reports by Brussels Times, for example, the “We care a lot” project at Pukkelpop offers free alcohol testing for attendees to combat drunk driving. Recent deaths have led health agencies to support drug testing programs at festival sites to prevent both overdose and mortality outcomes.
