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Teen dies at Sydney dance party

The intrinsic link between electronic dance parties and illicit drugs have come under the spotlight after the death of a teenager at a Sydney festival.

TV networks have named the victim as Georgina Bartter, 19.

She was found unconscious and convulsing at the Harbourlife festival at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair on Saturday.

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Friends reported the teenager, one of 5200 people at the festival, took one-and-a-half pills, police told AAP.

But the Seven Network reported on Sunday the Bartter family said she would never have taken the drugs knowingly.

She was remembered as a beautiful, outgoing girl and a hardworking university student.

An autopsy will be carried out to determine what was in the pill that contributed to the her death.

The teen from Longueville on Sydney’s north shore was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital just before 5pm, but she suffered multiple organ failure and died.

Police arrested 78 people at the waterfront dance party for drug offences.

Superintendent Mark Walton said he’s concerned large electronic dance parties are closely associated with illicit psychoactive drugs.

“It does not matter what location they are held in, there is no doubt the nature of the entertainment is intrinsically linked to that drug use.

“Quite simply, you do not know what you’re taking.”

In a statement, Harbourlife organisers said their thoughts were with the teenager’s family.

“We can hardly imagine the pain and heartbreak they must be feeling and they have our deepest sympathy,” a statement on Facebook said.

Organisers said a paramedic was with the girl a minute after she collapsed.

A first-aid tent at the festival included paramedics and an emergency doctor.

Police are asking anyone with knowledge about synthetic substance sellers to come forward.

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