OD'ed Musicians Sought Ecstasy; Thought They Were Snorting Coke

Details on the circumstances that led to the death in Hong Kong of a young Australian classical musician, and nearly killed his friend, have emerged after days of controversial reporting on the story – and questions surrounding why the two would seek and ingest unknown drugs.

Trombonist Evan Williams survived a drug cocktail that killed oboist Daniel Hall, only because another Western Australia Youth Orchestra member alerted hotel staff who forced their way into the room where the two men lay unconscious.

 The events of Dec. 18 put Williams in a coma, though he has since made a surprising recovery. The Perth men, both 21, snorted a white powder they thought was cocaine. They got coke, but also horse tranquilizer and powerful opiates.

Hall’s roommate tried to gain access to the room about 2:00 in the morning, but the door was deadlocked. So he contacted orchestra staff, who in turn badgered the front desk to get in and discover the young men.

"If Dan's roommate had said, 'Stuff this, I'm going to crash in someone else's room', no one would have known ’til later that day and Evan would have died," said Ben Burgess, the orchestra’s executive director.

Burgess said Williams has told his parents that the pair believed they had bought cocaine.

"We're not aware of them being regular drug users or even slight drug users. I just think they were looking for that next step," Burgess said. "We believe they were probably particularly affected physically because they'd never done it before.”

The director also said that Burgess “was very lively, very social, very popular. He was very much the life of the party … Dan enjoyed a party and he enjoyed a drink on occasions. But you don't deserve to die for doing this for one night."

“Obviously, they've made a very stupid mistake.”

Burgess said this was to be the final tour for the men with the orchestra, after years as members. The tragedy struck during a break from rehearsals for concerts in Hong Kong, after successful concerts in Singapore during a tour that started Dec. 10.

Sources in Hong Kong told The Sunday Times that police believe that after an orchestra harbour cruise, the pair told others they were going out looking for ecstasy. It is believed they went to the Tsim Sha Tsui nightlife area, where they asked a club doorman for the stimulant.

The doorman told them he only had cocaine, and they bought the powder and returned to the nearby Kimberley Hotel where they were staying.

Burgess said Australian consulate staff and Hong Kong police were extremely helpful and compassionate, and he did not believe police were pressing charges against any of the group.

The orchestra was mainly adults, but the 75 players had been supervised and had chaperones despite only three performers under 18, according to Burgess.