Andrew O'Keefe revived after overdose in Sydney's eastern suburbs
Former television star Andrew O’Keefe had to be revived after a drug overdose at a party in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
O’Keefe was treated by paramedics at the home in Vaucluse following a neighbour’s concern-for-welfare report in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Andrew O’Keefe arriving at Downing Centre courts earlier this month.Credit: Steven Siewert
“NSW Ambulance paramedics rendered assistance to the man before taking him to St Vincent’s Hospital where he is reported to be in a stable condition,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to a home unit on Old South head Road at Vaucluse about 3.40am (Saturday 14 September 2024), responding to concerns for the welfare of a 52-year-old man.”
O’Keefe last week lost an appeal against his convictions for domestic violence after a judge found he has a tendency to spit at the woman in a “low, demeaning act” and that her injuries were consistent with being kicked, pushed and scratched.
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The troubled former TV host was found guilty by a magistrate in January of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breaching an apprehended violence order after a “violent and degrading” incident against the woman inside a unit in Sydney’s east in September 2021.
“Obviously, I’m very disappointed,” O’Keefe said outside Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court last Monday.
Judge John Pickering said O’Keefe’s behaviour at the time of his arrest, captured on police bodyworn footage released by the court, was “utterly irrelevant” to the consideration of his appeal as he had been acquitted by the magistrate of resisting arrest, and it was “completely separate” to the domestic violence allegations.
The footage showed O’Keefe screaming at police officers arresting him at his CBD apartment in September 2021.
“This is what happens when I don’t have my medication,” he shouts at one of the officers after he is informed of the charges against him.
“This is a very simple request. Why are you being such f---ing Nazis about it?”
Shortly after, O’Keefe is told to “calm down”, to which he responds: “Why would I calm down when you’re doing this to me?” as four officers restrain him and pin him against a wall.
O’Keefe also appealed against a separate conviction after being found guilty of possessing 1.6 grams of the prohibited drug mephedrone, also known as the party drug “meow meow”, and was fined $500.
The judge found there was reasonable doubt as to whether O’Keefe ever possessed the drug, and the magistrate should have had a reasonable doubt about the charge. He upheld the appeal and quashed that conviction.
If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
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