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French tourist falls into fire at festival

A 21-year-old French tourist has burns to 40 per cent of her body after falling into a campfire at a central Queensland music festival.

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Source: AAP


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A drug-affected French tourist has severe burns to 40 per cent of her body after falling into a campsite fire three times at a central Queensland music festival.

The 21-year-old who was under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, was partying at the Mushroom Valley festival, north of Mackay, in the early hours of Sunday.

She was taken by helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital with severe burns and cuts from a barbed wire fence after wandering from the festival into bushland and then the campsite.

"The injured woman was conscious as her blistering burns were wrapped and treated by paramedics," the RACQ Central Queensland Rescue service said in a statement on Monday.

It's understood she had taken LSD and ecstasy during the festival.

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A Queensland Police spokeswoman said six drug-drivers were also caught and a 55-year-old Mackay man was arrested for possession of cannabis during the three-day festival.

"Police provided a highly visible presence at this event and will continue to so in future," the spokeswoman said.

A statement from festival organisers expressed their sympathies to the young woman and said the safety of festival patrons was their "highest priority".

The festival's website declares drugs are not allowed at the festival but also states festival goers can pay to be tested for drugs and alcohol before leaving the festival.

It also stipulates there would be only one fire allowed on the festival site and campfires were prohibited.

Last month a 41-year-old man died after running into a giant burning sculpture at the Burning Man festival in the United States.


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