RAVE DEATH LINKED TO DRUG

A 27-YEAR-OLD man died at an all-night dance party in Yallingup
yesterday.

The man, identified as Simon John Cornish, of Metricup, was dead when
police arrived at the scene about 3am.

It is understood that Mr Cornish consumed a quantity of LSD before he
died. But it is not known whether he had taken other drugs,

Sen. Const. Simon Underwood, of Dunsborough police, said Mr Cornish
was at a rave party at a property in Injadup, 10km south of
Dunsborough.

Police arrested a man for allegedly possessing amphetamines and
ecstasy at the property about 10am. But they said the arrest was not
related to Mr Cornish's death.

The Injadup Spring Road property is owned by Ken Eichenberg.

Dunsborough police said Mr Eichenberg had made a number of
applications for rave parties to the Busselton council. It is
understood that Mr Eichenberg's property has a big natural
amphitheatre which, when combined with lighting and sound equipment,
makes it suitable for such parties.

Sen. Const. Underwood said Mr Eichenberg did not get permission to
hold Sunday night's party because the gathering was not expected to
top 300 people.

Under local government laws, permission is not needed for a public
gathering of fewer than 300 people.

But police said it appeared that there were more than 300 people at
the party.

The West Australian understands up to 500 people were there. Sources
said the numbers may have swelled after the Caves House Hotel closed.

Rave parties, which last for up to two days, are held quite often in
rented venues in the south-west.

It is believed that some property owners in the Margaret
River-Dunsborough area organise parties for profit, charging up to $70
a person. One event can rake in as much as $10,000.

LSD has been eclipsed in popularity by the dance drug,
ecstasy.

The dangers of the drug, which is popular at rave parties, hit home in
October 1995 when 15-year-old Sydney girl, Anna Wood, became
Australia's first reported victim. She died after taking ecstasy at a
city nightclub.

A South Australian woman, Jacqueline Louch, 37, died in January 1996,
also after taking ecstasy.

On New Year's Day, two Perth people died of suspected
overdoses.

Noranda woman Emma Margaret Reilly and Greig Eastaugh, from Gosnells,
both 23, died after celebrating New Year's Eve.

Police said there would be a coronial inquiry into Mr Cornish's
death.

Mr Eichenberg could not be contacted for comment.