Burning Man: Police treating death at US desert festival as suspicious

Shane Billingham, 33, had 'poisonous' levels of carbon monoxide in his blood, post mortem reveals

Shane Billingham (Shane Billingham / Facebook)

The death of a reveller at the Burning Man festival in Nevada is being treated as suspicious, police have said.

Shane Billingham, 33, was found unconscious in his car at the vast desert party on Thursday evening.

The New Zealand national had “poisonous” levels of carbon monoxide in his blood, a post mortem has now discovered.

An unidentified “controlled substance” was also found to be an exacerbating factor, the Washoe County medical examiner’s office said in a statement.

Following the report, Pershing County Sherriff’s Office said it is investigating the death as suspicious.

Burning Man is widely regarded as one of the world’s weirdest and wildest counter-culture festivals, attracting some 80,000 people from across the planet. Among the entertainments on offer during this year’s week-long event – which runs to Monday – are orgies and beer bong breakfasts.

Witnesses said Mr Billingham was given CPR by bystanders after being discovered in his vehicle at about 6.30pm local time.

He was taken to a medical tent but was later pronounced dead.

A makeshift memorial for the professional craftsman has since been set up in the Beats Boutique camp where he was staying. A wooden medallion, jacket and boxes of essential oils are among items left there.

Paying tribute from the festival, friend Steve MacWithey told the Reno Gazette Journal he was “one of the best people I’ve ever known”.