Coroners report to follow deaths at music festival near Warwick

POLICE will investigate if drugs were involved in the deaths of a young Sunshine Coast man and woman found in their tent at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival, southwest of Brisbane.

The Maleny man, 24, and Nambour woman, 22, were found in their tent within the grounds of the festival at Cherrabah Resort in Elbow Valley, near Warwick, about 9.30am yesterday.

Police yesterday said early investigations suggested the deaths were not suspicious, but an official cause was yet to be determined and a report would be prepared for the coroner.

Authorities are investigating if the pair had been dead for up to a day before they were found.

A man whose wife was camping near the couple, said their tent was closed on Saturday night. She had seen them on Friday night and Saturday morning.

“Their tent was closed, she thought they might have been asleep,” he said.

Privately-contracted paramedics are believed to have treated about 250 festivalgoers, but only about 5 per cent of cases involved substance abuse and none were serious.

Festival organisers have sent condolences to the pair’s family and friends and said the wellbeing and safety of patrons was their No.1 priority.

Police yesterday dismissed reports on social media speculating the deaths were caused by a fallen tree.