TEENAGER GEMMA THOMS 'SCOFFED DRUGS TO AVOID POLICE'

This is the 17-year-old girl who collapsed in her friend's arms at the
Big Day Out festival in Perth and later died of a suspected drug overdose.

Mates of Gemma Thoms have told how she took three tablets - believed
to be ecstasy – after she saw police searching for drugs at the
music festival on Sunday.

Gemma died in hospital early yesterday.

A witness told Perth radio that she saw Gemma collapse near the
amusement rides at Claremont Showgrounds.

"One friend was with her almost trying to catch her as she fell down.
She was holding her head and her eyes were rolling back and I think
she (the friend) was saying something like 'Get up! Stand up'," the
witness said.

But yesterday police contradicted the witness's story, saying that
Gemma was dropped off at the showgrounds, which meant she would not
have been subject to sniffer dog and police searches carried out at
the Showgrounds train station.

Police said Ms Thoms died from a suspected drug overdose but would not
elaborate further.

"I can't confirm what the cause of death is, that is a matter for the
coroner to deal with in due course," Assistant Commissioner Dominic
said in Perth.

"Taking illegal drugs is dangerous, the clear message is, don't take
(them)," he said.

Temperatures of up to 36C during the festival may have affected
people, the commissioner said.

"The weather conditions that we endured yesterday were difficult to
say the least and it can have varying impacts on people," he said.

At the train station near the event, police made 59 arrests for
possession of drugs, including four with intent to sell or supply.

They seized 129 tablets of MDMA or ecstasy, two grams of
methylamphetamine, six grams of cannabis, 75 joints and 21 tablets of
dexamphetamine.

Eighty-three liquor infringements were also issued.

Big Day Out organisers say they do not condone the use of drugs at the
annual event, which it advertises as drug and alcohol free.

It was the first time in the festival's 17-year history that an
incident like this has happened, they wrote on their website yesterday.