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The family of a young man who died after attending a music festival during Victoria's sweltering heatwave has said the event "should never have been allowed to go ahead".
Antony Maugeri, 23, an aspiring DJ, died shortly after being airlifted to hospital in a critical condition from the Pitch Arts and Music Festival in Mafeking, west of Ararat in the Grampians, on Saturday.
The festival has been criticised in recent days for opting to push on with the event despite the extreme weather conditions, as Premier Jacinta Allan today said it was "up to everyone" to heed the advice during heatwaves.
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Maugeri's heartbroken family today issued a statement claiming that lives had been put at risk after the event went ahead during the extreme temperatures.
"Words can't begin to describe the immense pain we are feeling to have lost our boy," the family said.
"He attended the event over the weekend to enjoy his passion for music and tragically lost his life.
"What occurred this weekend isn't about drugs or the need for drug testing, it's about the fact that our son's precious life was cut short and over 15,000 young lives were put at risk, by running an event like this during extreme heat conditions.
"The event should have never been allowed to go ahead."
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At least five men in their 20s and 30s, including Maugeri, were taken to hospital from the event on March 9 and 10, Ambulance Victoria confirmed.
Two of the men were flown by air ambulance to hospital in critical conditions but were later discharged.
Maugeri's cause of death is yet to be determined by the coroner.
Organisers cancelled the event later on Sunday after earlier pushing ahead with altered set times on Friday and Saturday, when temperatures reached the mid-30s.
The festival team was having regular emergency meetings with authorities between Friday and Sunday before the decision was made to cancel the event.
9News understands festival organisers were given a directive from the Country Fire Authority at around 3pm on Sunday to cancel the event, during one of those meetings.
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The weekend's incidents have ignited fresh calls for the government to legalise pill testing in Victoria.
During a press conference today, the premier said she had no further announcements to make.
Allan also declined to comment on whether the event should have been cancelled earlier.
"There are requirements on festival organisers that they run events safely," she said.
"There's requirements they work with emergency services, local councils and health services.
"All of us, whether we're individuals or festival organisers, should take the advice when they warn of extreme heat days.
"And that's exactly what happened over the course of the weekend."
