Closeup concert victims’ hearts, brains damaged – PNP

MANILA, Philippines – Two of the victims at the Closeup Forever Summer concert died due to multiple organ failure, with their hearts and brains damaged after they took a cocktail of drugs and alcohol during the open-air event last month. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory on Tuesday, June 7, released its autopsy and toxicology findings on the bodies of concert-goers Ken Miyagawa, 18, and Eric Anthony Miller, 33.

The two victims died along with 3 others after attending the Closeup concert on May 21. (READ: Music, drugs, and alcohol: Do young Filipinos party to get high?)

PNP Crime Laboratory Director Emmanuel Aranas said both victims took MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and a combination of other drugs. They also had high blood alcohol content (BAC) levels, which speeded up the effect of the drugs in their system.

According to toxicology findings, Miyagawa took MDMA, PMA (para-methoxyamphetamine), and MDC (3,4-methylenedioxycathinone). His BAC level was 0.182 mg/ml. 

Meanwhile, Miller took MDMA, PMA, and amphetamine. His BAC was at 0.138 mg/ml.

Aranas said that with those amounts of alcohol, the two victims were in a state of heightened excitement and confusion.

The brains of both victims were also edematous or had an excessive amount of watery fluid, and weighed more than normal. Their heart muscles were also damaged, as well as the normal tissues of the kidneys.

Aranas said that the MDMA targeted the heart, making heartbeats irregular. The drug also affected the neurotransmitters in the brain.

“This is a vicious cycle na ‘di natatapos (that does not end), each one of the organs were constantly affected hanggang nagkaroon ng (until there was a) loss of function,” Aranas said.

The victims slowly fell into a stupor due to the effects of the drugs.

‘Direct damage’

Because of the alcohol intake, the drugs took effect much faster on the victims’ bodies. But Aranas also said that because the heart muscles were directly damaged, the possibility of the victims being saved if they had been rushed to the hospital earlier was also small.

“There is a chance but almost nil, because of the cardiac and brain effect. When you have brain edema, it will take a long time before you become conscious again,” he said.

Aranas added that the two victims may have been previous drug users, based on autopsy findings.

“Sa findings ng pathologist namin, si Miyagawa may fibrosis sa heart, parang lumang depekto sa heart muscles. Most likely, baka before nag-take na siya, kaya lang nakakaya. Pero just the same, nagkaroon ng problema sa heart,” he said.

(According to the findings of our pathologist, Miyagawa had cardiac fibrosis. It’s like an old defect in the heart muscles. Most likely, maybe before he had been taking drugs, but he was able to endure it. But just the same, there was a problem with his heart.)

“May previous na problema sa puso ng dalawa na may malaking posibilidad na meron nang nakakaapekto sa puso nila dati, na possibly dahil sa drugs,” he added.

(There was a previous problem in the hearts of the two, and there’s a big possibility that something previously affected their hearts, and it’s possibly because of drugs.)

Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed traces of two synthetic drugs similar in effect to the illegal drug ecstasy in the bodies of two other concert victims: Bianca Fontejon, 18, and Lance Garcia, 36.

Both victims had watery fluid in their internal organs and suffered from internal bleeding.

The NBI has arrested 6 alleged drug dealers suspected of selling illegal substances during the event. – Rappler.com