Mutiny Festival deaths: ‘Caring’ father Tommy Cowan among two who died after ‘taking pills’ at music event

Tommy Cowan, also known as Tommy Bakeer, died after falling ill at Mutiny Festival
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The second person who died after falling ill at Mutiny Festival has been named as a “caring” father “who would do anything for anyone”.

Tommy Cowan, 20, was named locally as one of those who died after being rushed to hospital on Saturday night.

Georgia Jones, 18, also died at the Portsmouth music festival, with her mother taking to social media to pay tribute to her “little girl”.

They were among 15 revellers taken to hospital from Mutiny that night as organisers issuing a warning of a "high strength or bad batch" of drugs. One person remains in a critical condition.

Georgia Jones died after taking "two pills" at Mutiny Festival
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The second day of the festival, which Craig David and Sean Paul were due to headline, was cancelled as a "safety precaution".

Mr Cowan, also known as Tommy Bakeer, was described as a caring young father.

According to Portsmouth local paper The News, his father, Damian Cowan, 43, said: "He was funny. He loved life and he loved his little boy.

"He was everything. He was a good lad – unfortunately he made a bad choice."

Mr Cowan was a "brilliant" friend, according to 19-year-old Jack Ford, who said they met at college studying uniformed services.

"He is such a caring guy who would do anything for any one. He loved going out with his mates but most importantly loved spending time with his girlfriend and son," said Mr Ford, who lives near Portsmouth.

"It was a big shock to lose such a great guy like him."

Both of those named as victims were from Havant, Hampshire.

A spokeswoman for Queen Alexandra Hospital said it was believed they were admitted after falling ill from the effects of drugs.

The other concertgoers went to the hospital on Saturday, but their cases were "not necessarily all drugs-related", the hospital spokeswoman said.

Police said the woman was taken ill at the festival in King George V Playing Fields at 7.10pm before the man was found collapsed 20 minutes later.

Hampshire Constabulary is investigating but said the deaths were separate incidents and were not suspicious.

Mutiny warned at around 9.30pm on Saturday, after the pair were taken ill, that it was "aware of a dangerous high-strength or bad-batch substance on site", and that no drugs should be taken.

The festival announced the deaths, before adding: "Following the terrible news from earlier today, the team behind Mutiny Festival are incredibly sad to announce that the Sunday of the festival has been cancelled as a safety precaution."

The organisers of the festival, which was headlined by Dizzee Rascal on Saturday, also urged customers to "responsibly dispose" of any substances.

The force said next-of-kin for both the victims had been informed.

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