Coroner calls for action to prevent future deaths at Leeds Festival after teenager's drug death

Senior Coroner Kevin McLoughlin has sent a prevention of future deaths report to the local authority after an inquest heard 17 year old Anya Buckley died after taking a cocktail of drugs at Leeds Festival in Bramham Park in August 2019.

Mr McLoughlin wrote in the report: "As Leeds City Council licence the Leeds Festival, it is for them to consider whether admitting 16 -17 year old teenagers into the festival - when they are not permitted in other licensed premises - amounts to an abdication of responsibility in relation to impressionable and potentially vulnerable teenagers."

Coroner's concerns over unsupervised 16 and 17 years olds at Leeds Festival after girl's drug death

He added: "In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action."

An inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court on January 13 heard Anya Buckley, of Oldham, was at the festival with a group of around 16 friends.

Medical staff tried to revive Anya after she went into cardiac arrest, but she was declared dead just after 3.30am on August 24 2019.

Toxicology results showed she had a combination of ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine in her system at the time of her death.

After recording a conclusion of drug related death, Mr McLoughlin said he would send a Regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report to Leeds City Council and ask the local authority to consider increasing the minimum age for unsupervised festival goers.

Mr McLoughlin wrote in the report: "Illicit drugs are a fact of life at festivals such as this, despite the efforts made by the organiser to prevent them getting in, and to treat those who are harmed by them.

"The infrastructure of drug searches and medical resources testifies to this.

"The mixture of potentially vulnerable young people and available illicit drugs creates a tempting situation for these excited teenagers and exposes them to the potential harm which illicit drugs can inflict.

"As teenagers aged 16 -17are not legally permitted to be in public houses or night clubs, it seems anomalous that they should be free to spend the whole night in an environment where illicit drugs and alcohol are prevalent.

"Evidence was given at the inquest by Miss Buckley's mother that entry should be restricted to people under the age of 18.

"In fairness, evidence was also given in relation to the difficulty of checking age, and the possibility that young people will search for excitement elsewhere if they cannot attend well-organised festivals."

Mr McLoughlin said that the casualty rate of those adversely affected by drugs is low when set against the huge numbers of young people attending.

Anya's mum Lisa Bulmer said after the hearing: "For me, the burning issue is that you can't go into a pub and drink legally until you are 18.

"The bigger risk at a festival is the amount of drugs in circulation. Because of the culture of that age group, being allowed in the festival from 16 without an adult, they are absolutely vulnerable.

"If the age was raised it gives the parents more power to talk to the children and stop them going."

Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic which stages Leeds Festival, told he inquest that that if people under the age of 18 cannot attend legal events they will "find a way to attend illegal events" where there would be more risk to their health.

Mr Benn said there is welfare advice 24 hours a day at the festival, with large messages warning people about the misuse of drugs displayed on screens in between artists performing.

Criminal proceedings in connection wth Anya's death are currently ongoing at Leeds Crown Court.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said after the inquest: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Anya’s family, and all other families who have experienced a similar tragedy.

"As always, we will carefully consider any recommendations from the coroner once we receive them, and take any appropriate action.”