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Supplied
David Peterson, who died at the Rhythm and Vines Festival from a medical event.
A second person died at the 2020 Rhythm & Vines festival.
Audio engineer David Peterson died during the night of December 30-31, in what police said was a medical event.
The festival’s director of marketing and partnerships, Kyle Bell, confirmed late Friday that the man who died was working with the Auckland Company Wavefront Audio.
The cause of death has yet to be revealed, but Bell said he understood that drugs were not involved.
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The death follows that of 19-year-old Fletcher Wong, whose body was found Thursday after he disappeared Tuesday.
“It was a pretty tough event, to be honest,” Bell said.
Bell said he understood that drugs were also not involved in Wong’s death.
He knew Peterson personally: “He was a good guy.”
New Zealand Police / Supplied
The body of Wellington’s Fletcher Wong was found Thursday.
A statement from the festival organizers expressed their condolences to the Peterson family.
“We are deeply saddened that David Peterson, a treasured member of the Wavefront Audio production team, passed away overnight while off duty on the night of December 30th.
“We extend our condolences to the crew member’s family, loved ones and colleagues at this time.”
Wavefront Audio manager Milo Kerrigan paid tribute to his colleague in a social media post on New Year’s Day where he said the death was suspected to be heart failure.
“Dave had injured his arm two days before requiring some stitches and was on light duty as a systems technician for the 3 stages we take care of at R&V, generally being the toughest … roadie that he was, he came back after a couple of hours mended and armed “.
Kerrigan said in his post that some of his colleagues tried to revive him, but to no avail.
“Often at a concert like this, once things were going his way, he’d have a few Z’s in the front seat of the truck.
“A couple of us knew he was there (the van was outside the production office) and he was in his usual relaxed snoring position.
“Unfortunately, when one of the crew members went to wake him up, he didn’t respond. We pulled it out and Bex started CPR; the doctors came very quickly and took over. When I held her cold hand I knew she was gone. “
Supplied
David Peterson was described as a tough man with a soft center.
He described Peterson as a “tough man with a soft center, a perfectionist, and a solid friend.”
“I and many others will miss him very much.”
A police spokeswoman said police were called to Rhythm & Vines on Thursday around 2 a.m. on Dec. 31.
The death appeared to have been a “medical event,” he said.
There were no suspicious circumstances and Peterson’s death has been referred to the coroner, he said.
It was one of three festival deaths during the holiday period.
Second Lieutenant Tuitu’u Junior Vaiangina, 29, was killed at the Hidden Valley Festival on Sunday night.
