Teen girl dies in suspected drugs tragedy at New Year’s Day rave as popular club announces temporary closure
A TEENAGER has died after a suspected ecstasy overdose in a nightclub – the third youngster to die after an event at the venue in just four months.
The 18-year-old woman collapsed at SWG3 warehouse in Glasgow after a six-hour hard dance rave on New Year’s Day.
She was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in the city half an hour after the Teletech gig finished – but tragically passed away despite medics’ best attempts to save her.
The death comes after two 18-year-old men died in suspected drugs-related fatalities in August after a rave at the same venue in Glasgow’s trendy Finnieston district.
Just one drug death at iconic Glasgow club The Arches effectively closed it down in 2015 after it lost its late licence following concerns raised by Police Scotland.
It’s understood that drugs are a line of inquiry being pursued by cops – and officers will also liaise with SWG3 and Glasgow City Council.
Tonight, a source said: “Three families are grieving the loss of their children who left to have fun and never came home.
“The Arches was shut down for less – questions have to be asked about the safety of SWG3.
“It hosts events where drugs are commonplace and kids just don’t know what they are taking or how dangerous these substances can be.
“If any other venue in the city had this problem, it would be in serious trouble.
“SWG3 need to get a grip on this or else we’ll soon have another family who wave their kid off to the venue – and they don’t come back.”
Tonight, the club confirmed paid tribute to the teen during this “heartbreaking and devastating” situation.
They’ve confirmed they’ve been in touch with the girl’s family to offer their support.
And they’re shutting the venue this weekend as a mark of respect to “regroup” with staff.
Emergency services were scrambled to the venue just after 3.30am on Tuesday after the alarm was raised by the unnamed woman’s condition.
An ambulance took her the short distance from the club to the QEUH where medics tried to save her – but she was pronounced dead later.
The bash at SWG3 ran from 9pm on New Year’s Day until 3am on January 2 and was run by Manchester-based promoters Teletech.
It was headlined by DJs I Hate Models, Anthea, Part Time Killer, Faster Horses and VXYX.
On Facebook, SWG3 uploaded pictures from the event with the comment: “Cheers for kicking off 2024 with us – cracking way to start the year.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware on Friday, 5 January that a woman had become unwell at a premises on Eastvale Place, Glasgow on Tuesday, 2 January.
“An 18-year-old was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
“Next of kin have been informed and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call on January 2 at 3.36am to attend an incident on Eastvale Place, Glasgow and transported one female patient to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.”
In August, Scott Allison, 18, from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire and Marcus Dick, from nearby Coatbridge passed away after going to a rave at SWG3 where superstar DJ Ben Hemsley was headlining.
Scott tragically died after he was found collapsed at Croy railway station in Lanarkshire late on the night of the gig.
Marcus died in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after taking ill at the venue in the early hours of Sunday.
The families of the two teens have paid tribute to them in a statement released through Police Scotland.
Scott’s loved ones said: “We are devastated by the loss of Scott who was loved very much by his family and friends.
“We are asking for privacy at this very difficult time and would like to thank everyone for their kind words.”
Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, from Police Scotland, said at the time: “So far in our enquiries it has been established that both of these men, who were unknown to each other, attended the same event in the Eastvale Place area of Glasgow on Saturday night.
“However, enquiries remain ongoing and although we are investigating both deaths as drug-related at this time, there is no evidence to suggest there is a connection between these deaths.”
In 2014, Regane MacColl, 17, had a seizure at The Arches and died in hospital after apparently taking a ‘Mortal Kombat’ ecstasy pill.
Bosses took measures to tackle the drug problem but in March 2015, police served an emergency closure order after another woman collapsed outside the venue.
Glasgow City Council Licensing Board subsequently ruled it must close at midnight – and the venue shut down a month later.
A spokesperson for SWG3 said: “In response to the recent tragic incident at our venue we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the young woman who lost her life.
“This is a heartbreaking and devastating situation, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
“Our team has been in direct contact with the family to offer support.
“Upon spotting that she was in distress, our staff swiftly intervened, bringing her to the venue’s medical unit for examination.
“The on-site medical team, composed of qualified and experienced professionals, promptly called for an ambulance as her condition deteriorated.
“Regrettably, despite these efforts, she did not survive.
“It is important to acknowledge the pervasive issue of drug use in today’s society, and we want to emphasise that we take significant measures to prevent the entry of such substances into our venue.
“Every guest is thoroughly searched upon entry by our highly-trained, accredited security teams.
“These teams also conduct constant patrols within the venue. Furthermore, our qualified medical teams are consistently present at all major events.
“As one of the largest and longest-established venues of its kind in the country, with over two million guests since our opening in 2011, SWG3 is recognised in the leisure industry for adhering to the highest standards of security and supervision.
“We have proactively decided to close the venue this weekend as a mark of respect and to enable us to regroup and re-evaluate with our staff.
“Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our patrons remains unwavering, and we will continue to review and enhance our safety protocols to help prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.”