Teenage Boy Dies At RockNess Festival

19-Year-Old Boy Dies At RockNess Festival

A teenage boy has died at a music festival in the Highlands.

The 19-year-old collapsed in the main area at the RockNess festival last night.

He is thought to have taken drugs.

The teenager, from Portobello in Edinburgh, was taken to the hospital tent and stabilised before being transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Police said he failed to respond to treatment and died in the early hours of this morning.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "Early indications are that the man may have consumed drugs and this is one of the lines of inquiry at this stage.

"A post mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death.

"His next of kin have been informed."

A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Meanwhile, police last night named two men killed in a road crash involving a bus taking people to the festival.

A van driver and his passenger died of their injuries following a collision with a bus on the A9 at Ralia, in the Highlands.

They are Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28, from the Glasgow area, both painters and decorators.

The bus driver was airlifted to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow with serious injuries after she became trapped in the vehicle.

Fourteen passengers were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment to a range of injuries, none of which are life-threatening.

Police said a 19-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man were also taken to hospital from the festival in the early hours of this morning.

They are thought to have taken drugs including so-called legal highs.

They are still in hospital, but are not in a life-threatening condition.

Police issued a warning about drugs to festival goers.

They are carrying out drugs searches, using drugs dogs and amnesty bins are also in place.

A spokesman said they are making inquiries into a "legal high" substance known as benzo fury, which they think may have been taken by those who are currently being treated in hospital.

They warned it could be very dangerous - particularly if taken with other substances.

Event commander Superintendent Stevie Mackay said: "Taking drugs or any medicines, which you have not been prescribed is an extremely risky thing to do.

"People may think that legal highs are safe, because they are not classed as a controlled drug, but they are extremely dangerous.

"If anyone has the tablets described or any other drug, whether controlled or a 'legal high', in their possession, they are advised not to take them and to hand these in."

Festival organiser Jim King said: "What should be very clear from this information is that legal highs does not mean safe, and customers should not go anywhere near these dangerous substances.

"Festival goers should heed the advice given to them by the health professionals and the police, and stay safe by avoiding drugs of any kind."

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