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ABC News
ABC News
National

Man dies at Panama music festival in Tasmania, as organisers warn crowd to be safe

Sampa the Great playing on stage at the Panama festival on Saturday night. (ABC News)

A man aged in his 40s has died at the multi-day Panama music festival in north-east Tasmania.

Police said the man was found by staff in the toilets last night at the festival at Lone Star Valley — a property near Golconda, a 45-minute drive north of Launceston.

Despite attempts to revive the man, he could not be saved, police said.

Emergency services, including forensic police officers, were called to the scene at about 5:30pm yesterday.

The cause of death is yet to be determined, with police only saying it was a "sudden death" with "no suspicious circumstances".

Festival staff proactively made an announcement on stage shortly after the incident, warning the crowd not to use any recreational drugs.

"We don't know whether drugs were involved but we want to put your safety first, so this announcement is just to say don't take any recreational drugs. It's not safe to do so," festival organiser Tim Carroll told the crowd.

"If you have, find a sober friend and just check in with each other.

The festival brands itself as a "three-day celebration of music and community". (ABC News)

"If you have any concerns, we're available, we're on radio, also at the first aid hut."

Mr Carroll said the man who died was "very dear to us and the festival" and "our love goes out to his family".

"Be safe out there," he said.

The festival, also known as A Festival Called Panama, calls itself a "three-day celebration of music and community".

"Each March, 1,500 patrons join us in the fields, to camp under the stars and witness some of the best acts you never knew you loved," its website says.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

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