A man has died after taking ketamine at Glastonbury Festival.
The unnamed 26-year-old man from Reading was taken ill on Wednesday night and was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary where he was described as being in a critical condition on Thursday. He died earlier today.
On Twitter, Glastonbury Police said:
“Unfortunately the man taken ill after a suspected reaction to ketamine has died this morning. His family are aware and being supported.”
The death is not being treated as suspicious, and in a statement, the Glastonbury Police said:
“At this stage we believe this was an individual reaction to ketamine and was not from a bad batch of the drug.”
Ketamine is legally used by doctors and vets as a tranquilliser and general anaesthetic, and was upgraded by ministers from a Class C to a Class B drug in February after being presented with evidence of the physical and psychological harm it can cause.
Revellers use the drug recreationally for feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, and a general “floaty feelings“.
Public Health England warned of the dangers of mixing ketamine and alcohol on Twitter, saying:
“Ketamine and alcohol dangerously affect your heart and breathing.
“Illicit drugs with alcohol can be deadly as you can’t tell what you’re taking or how strong it is.”
The Home Office estimates that around 120,000 people aged between 16 and 59 took ketamine in 2013.
