A NEAR-LETHAL cocktail of beer, bourbon and ecstasy triggered a heart attack in a 22-year-old man en route to Wagga to participate in this week’s Eastern University Games.
The man, from Sydney, suffered a heart attack about 5.30pm on Sunday at the Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre and was taken to Wagga Base Hospital, where he was placed into an induced coma.
He remained in hospital on Monday in a stable condition.
The man was part of a group from Sydney travelling to Wagga together to participate in the games.
Police said he had consumed beer and bourbon on the bus before taking what they believed was a single ecstasy pill.
Inspector Peter Robertson from Wagga police said the man was lucky to be alive, with his heart attack an untimely reminder of the dangers of mixing alcohol and drugs.
“It’s very well publicised about the over-consumption of alcohol and taking prohibted drugs and mixing the two together – you double your chances of this thing happening,” Inspector Robertson said.
“It’s a warning to everyone in general, but especially to those uni students about to participate in the games.”
Wagga police commenced a special operation targeting misbehaviour over the Uni Games week on Sunday night, with extra police patrolling the city’s pubs and clubs.
“We’ll be doing our best to ensure that type of thing doesn’t continue, but we’d also rely on the good sense of the individuals involved and those supervising them,” Inspector Robertson said.
“We’re hoping everyone can participate and enjoy themselves in the spirit that was intended.”
