Audience member dies during opening night of Melbourne international comedy festival

A man watching a comedy gig has died after suffering a medical emergency in a packed theatre on the opening night of a major festival

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A crowd watched on in horror as good Samaritans rushed to help a man who died on the opening night of a major comedy festival.

An audience member suffered a medical episode at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night, organisers of the Melbourne International comedy festival said in a statement.

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