His shows bring out fans by the tens of thousands. Wednesday night, emergency crews say multiple teens and young men and women went to the hospital after attending an Avicii concert in Boston. (Via Flickr / Mark Runyon / ConcertTour.org)
The Boston Globe reports no one died, but the deputy superintendent for Boston EMS said paramedics treated 50 concert-goers at TD Garden Arena, and ambulances transported 36 other patients to the hospital.
The superintendent didn't definitively point to what caused the large number of people to need help, but concert-goers said it was obvious.
KATIE BRACE, WBZ-TV REPORTER: "People drinking too much, people on the floor passed out, people doing drugs. Here's what a couple of them told me."
CONCERT-GOER: "There was one kid — he took four cops to get him down. He was on something. I have no idea."
TIM CAPUTO, WHDH REPORTER: "I asked her what kind of patients they were taking to the hospital. Was it dehydration, drugs or alcohol? She told me, 'It's a combination of everything.'"
Avicii is a Grammy-nominated DJ perhaps best known for current hits like "Hey Brother." His concerts are high-energy, and this isn't the first time paramedics responded to a medical emergency at his shows. (Via Universal Music AB / Avicii)
Last month, a medic team on hand at Rogers Centre in Toronto was overwhelmed by the number of people needing attention and called EMS. The Toronto Star reports ambulances transported 29 people that night.
Two people collapsed and died last weekend after attending the famous Electric Daisy Carnival music festival in Las Vegas, though it should be noted Avicii was one of several performers at the festival and causes of death weren't immediately known. (Via Las Vegas Sun)
One concert-goer in Boston told the Globe young people who wouldn't normally do drugs go to the concert to experiment, not knowing what they can handle.
The teen told the Globe, "You couldn’t breathe if you were on the floor. It was the best and worst time ever."
Avicii — whose real name is Tim Bergling — tweeted early Thursday morning, "Just hearing the awful news abt tonight. Its a terrible thing, I rly hope everyone is ok! My thoughts go to those affected & their families." (Via Twitter / @Avicii)
Boston Police said the concert continued through much of the medical emergency, but a police superintendent said crews warned organizers not to do any extra sets because of the situation.
