Astroworld Festival stampede: Victims died of compression asphyxia, medical examiner says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Officials with the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences on Thursday ruled that the 10 people who died last month during a crowd rush at the Astroworld Festival in Houston died of “compression asphyxia,” according to multiple reports.

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The deaths were ruled accidental, according to KTRK. Contributing factors were found in only one of the deaths, KXAN reported.

Mirza Danish Baig died of asphyxiation with a contributing cause of the “combined toxic effects of cocaine, methamphetamine and ethanol,” according to KTRK and KHOU.

>> Related: Astroworld Festival stampede: 9-year-old victim dies, family says, bringing death toll to 10

Ten people between the ages of 9 and 27 died Nov. 5 after a crowd of about 50,000 rushed the main stage as rapper Travis Scott performed. Scott, who headlined and founded the festival, has since been sued by victims who claimed his performance went on even after authorities declared a mass casualty event at the venue, NBC News reported.

>> Related: Astroworld Festival: Defendants in $750M lawsuit include Travis Scott, Apple

About 300 wounded people were treated at the festival site after the incident and 13 were hospitalized, according to The Associated Press.

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Astroworld aftermath Stacey Sarmiento places flowers at a memorial in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in memory of her friend, Rudy Pena, who died in a crush of people at the Astroworld music festival on Friday. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)

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