A patron attending the first night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has tragically died during the opening show.
Ambulances were seen outside the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night after the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow was abruptly cancelled mid-show due to a medical emergency in the venue’s upper level.
It’s understood a man suffered a suspected heart attack early on during the show.
Police confirmed the man, who’s yet to be formally identified, couldn’t be revived and died at the scene.
Patrons were informed the show would not continue during the unfolding medical emergency.
‘The show was stopped and cancelled. The festival will be in touch with all ticket holders tomorrow,’ event organisers posted online.
Emergency services were called to the venue after patrons alerted ushers to the unfolding incident.
One attendee told Daily Mail Australia the situation was ‘very distressing’ and that members of the public initially provided CPR in the dark as headline act Michael Hing continued his performance, unaware of the medical emergency.
The opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival ended mid-show after a patron suffered a suspected heart attack and died
Comedian Michael Hing (above) hosted the festival which featured ‘a star-studded line-up’
‘[It] would have been at least 15 mins worth before the show stopping, and [it] only stopped as patrons yelled to stop performing,’ the patron said.
Another attendee claimed that the show continued even after paramedics arrived.
‘People started to get up and leave. I saw people in tears and comforting each other,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘No one was laughing for paying real attention to the stage, maybe only to see if someone would come out and stop the show.
‘It was only when a few people, who were leaving, got up and were loudly talking or arguing with a staff member before leaning over and shouting at the comedian on stage to stop the show that anything happened.
The public and paramedics were there for a good 15-20 minutes in the dark doing CPR before the show stopped.
‘I can’t believe they (the organisers) didn’t communicate with backstage to halt the show, and that it took the public to yell out to the comedian to stop for something to happen.
Victoria Ambulance and Melbourne International Comedy Festival were contacted for comment.
Comedians including Dave Hughes (pictured) expressed their shock and sadness
The ‘Supershow’ marked the start of the four-week festival, a major event in the Melbourne entertainment calendar.
The festival attracts ‘a star-studded line-up featuring comedy royalty from around the globe’, this year hosted by comedian Michael Hing.
Well-known comedians took to social media late Wednesday night to share their shock and sadness.
‘All performers thoughts are with the family affected,’ Dave Hughes said.
Tahir Bilgiç added: ‘Sad news but correctly handled all round … well done everyone and thoughts with those involved.
Other shocked patrons later took to social media to express their distress.
‘I was at the other end of the row and can’t stop thinking about it,’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘Awful to witness tonight.’
Others slammed the venue and organisers on how the tragic incident was handled.
‘Was very distressing for all in attendance. Very poor that the show continued for 15mins while compressions took place with only patrons yelling to stop the show whilst crew attended to the person,’ one wrote.
‘Palais should review their emergency management response plans so this is handled better in the future.’
Another added: ‘There were plenty of staff there. ‘It was poorly handled, and I feel very sorry for the man and his family [and] friends that they had to put up with the inept management while going through the worst possible situation and his last moments.’
