Rave deaths 'not due to bad drugs'

Both men were at an all-night rave at London's SE1 club

Two men who died after an all-night rave did not die from contaminated or "bad" ecstasy tablets but may have suffered heat stroke, police have revealed.

Tablets taken by Steven Brett and Bret Gilkes were not contaminated and had "normal" levels of ecstasy, toxicology tests showed.

In the wake of the men's deaths, police initially thought they had taken tablets from a "bad batch" and issued warnings for clubbers to avoid the tablets featuring a five-pronged symbol.

We do not believe that the tablets were particularly a bad batch or contaminated

Detective Superintendent Adrian Maybanks

Now officers are urging all club owners to take extra safety measures in the light of the findings, such as providing free drinking water and avoiding overcrowding.

A number of people fell ill at the SE1 club under London Bridge railway station on Saturday night and Sunday and an 18-year-old man remains in a "critical" condition.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Maybanks, of Scotland Yard's Serious Crime Group, said preliminary tests showed Mr Brett, 19, from Surrey died from liver and kidney failure.

Normal range

Results for Mr Gilkes, 20, from Birmingham were "inconclusive".

Mr Maybanks told a news conference at Walworth police station in south London: "The tablets which we have and believe to be similar to the ones sold at the club were within the normal range of MDMA of 85 milligrams.

"We do not believe that the tablets were particularly a bad batch or contaminated.

The tablets contained only 'normal' levels of ecstasy

"I would like to pass on my condolences to the families. One person remains on the critical list."

All the people taken to hospital were believed to have taken the same type of ecstasy tablets, Mr Maybanks confirmed.

He appealed for anyone still in possession of any of the pills to hand them in and said they would not be prosecuted but that they could help the investigation.

Mr Maybanks said heat stroke was a "line of inquiry that we are following and is a distinct possibility".

Free water

He added: "My information was that it was a very hot night, there was a large number of people in the club and that the temperature was quite high."

Possible overcrowding and the lack of free water for clubbers were also being considered in the investigation, although the facts had not been established yet, he said.

The manager of the club had "cooperated with us fully", as had the promoters of the Raindance event held there on the night of the deaths.

"The conclusion of my inquiry will be reported to the appropriate authorities, which will include the local authority and the Crown Prosecution Service.

"But the matter is still subject to a robust investigation by my staff."

Victim convulsing

Mr Gilkes died on Sunday morning after being taken to St Thomas's Hospital in London.

Mr Brett was pronounced dead on Tuesday at King's College Hospital after being found collapsed and convulsing near the night-club.

Superintendent Phil Manns set out a series of safety measures for clubs, saying they were particularly vital during hot weather.

"I want to get across a very important safety message so that we can do all we can to prevent a similar tragedy occurring anywhere else," he said.

Clubs were advised to step up security to keep out drugs, to avoid overcrowding, particularly in popular parts of their premises, and to ensure adequate ventilation.

Cool-down areas

He added that they should provide an "unrestricted and free supply of cold drinking water, and plenty of it".

And there should also be special cool-down areas where revellers could relax.

The main aim was to give advice on "safer drug use", though he stressed that there had been no change in the law and narcotics were "still illegal".

Mr Manns' message to clubbers was: "Look after your friends. Take water onboard and cool down."