A man in his thirties died of a cardiorespiratory arrest during an undeclared rave party organized near Saumur, in the Parnay region, on Sunday, May 12, 2019. The party had been taking place since Thursday and drew around 10,000 partygoers from all over France. The authorities were caught off guard by the event, as it was not officially declared and was held in violation of a prefectural order prohibiting festive gatherings during the Ascension long weekend. The prefecture of Maine-et-Loire criticized the lack of sanitary facilities and accessible drinking water at the site, which was located on private agricultural land in a remote area surrounded by vineyards and woods.
The organizers had not made provisions for toilets, and attendees were reportedly using the nearby woods for that purpose. The lack of basic facilities raised concerns about public health and safety. Despite the challenges, emergency services were able to establish a secure route for vehicles to access the site, allowing for the evacuation of those in need of medical assistance. Approximately 200 people received medical attention from emergency responders and at least ten individuals were transported to the hospital by the afternoon of Sunday. The local authorities emphasized that the organizers were obligated to provide for the welfare of the attendees and ensure compliance with regulations for public events.
The provincial authorities warned that sanctions would be imposed on all participants leaving the site, emphasizing the illegality of their presence at the unauthorized gathering. Gendarmes were deployed at the location to conduct checks on individuals leaving the rave party, and violators would be fined for their involvement in the unpermitted event. This incident highlighted the risks associated with hosting large-scale gatherings without proper planning and oversight. The tragic death of the man during the rave party underscored the importance of adhering to regulations and safety measures in order to prevent such incidents from reoccurring in the future.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death was ongoing, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of the cardiorespiratory arrest. The lack of information released at that point raised questions about the adequacy of security measures and emergency preparedness at the event. The incident also shed light on the challenges faced by local authorities in managing large crowds at unauthorized gatherings, especially in remote locations with limited infrastructure. Moving forward, there is a need for better coordination and communication between organizers, authorities, and emergency services to ensure the safety and well-being of attendees at such events.
