Fourteen concertgoers were hospitalized Friday night during The Chainsmokers’ performance at San Jose’s Discovery Meadow.
The electronic music duo’s show drew a massive crowd to the downtown park, but the evening took a dangerous turn as emergency crews scrambled to treat patients across the venue. The San Jose Fire Department received the first reports of “multiple patients requiring medical attention” at 8:22 p.m., prompting a major medical response.
“SJFD immediately requested an Ambulance Task Force, two additional advanced life support fire units, and a Battalion Chief to manage the incident and provide additional medical resources,” the fire department wrote in a statement.
Fourteen ambulances ultimately responded to the scene. All patients were transported to local hospitals for further treatment, though some received care at the park before being moved.
The San Jose Police Department said Bay Area that hospitalizations stemmed from a mix of “suspected alcohol intoxication and drug-related issues.” Officers also directed traffic around the area as the emergency operation unfolded.
The concert had kicked off at 5 p.m. And wrapped by 10:34 p.m., according to ABC 7. Police confirmed that paramedics treated some patients on-site, but at least ten people required hospital transport.
Social media posts from attendees painted a chaotic picture of the event. In a Reddit post, one user wrote of seeing “a lot of people getting taken out early.”
Another user added: “I saw a lot of people crash out. A few people did not look like they were gonna make it. You got know how to handle your drugs if you’re gonna do them.”
The Chainsmokers, the Grammy-winning duo of Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, shared several Instagram posts from the concert showing the large crowd in attendance. The posts did not address the medical incidents that occurred during the show.
Discovery Meadow, a grassy park near downtown San Jose, has hosted numerous large-scale events but rarely sees emergency responses on this scale. The venue sits adjacent to the Children’s Discovery Museum and is a frequent site for festivals and outdoor performances.
The Chainsmokers rose to prominence in 2014 with their viral hit “#SELFIE” and have since become one of electronic dance music’s most commercially successful acts, with chart-toppers including “Closer” and “Something Just Like This.” Their live shows routinely draw tens of thousands of fans to arenas and festival stages worldwide.
Friday’s incident adds to a growing list of medical emergencies at EDM events, where heat, dehydration, and substance use have historically contributed to hospitalizations. The combination of extended dancing, outdoor summer temperatures, and accessible substances has proven particularly dangerous at similar gatherings across California and the Southwest.
Neither The Chainsmokers nor event organizers have publicly commented on the hospitalizations as of Saturday.
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