Ajay Bhatnagar Death in Medellín Obituary: Cancer Specialist Dies After EDC Festival as Authorities Investigate Two Deaths and Knife Attack

MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA — The reported death of British-born cancer specialist Ajay Bhatnagar following the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Medellín has drawn attention to a series of serious incidents involving foreign visitors during the October 10–11, 2026, electronic music festival weekend.

Bhatnagar, 51, a radiation oncologist of Indian heritage who lived and worked in the United States, reportedly died on Monday, October 12, after developing medical complications. According to the account provided, he was taken to Clínica El Rosario on Sunday, where his condition initially stabilized before his death the following day.

Colombian media reports cited in the supplied account indicate that investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding his medical emergency. A definitive cause of death had not been released by Colombia’s National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. Any suggestion that substance use contributed to his death remains unconfirmed.

Second Festival Attendee Dies

Bhatnagar’s reported death followed that of Ismael Gerardo Méndez Huertas, a 27-year-old Costa Rican national who reportedly became unconscious and experienced severe breathing difficulties during the festival on Saturday night.

He was transported to Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital, where he died in the early hours of Sunday, according to the supplied report. His family and friends have called for greater clarity about the circumstances of his death.

Meanwhile, Australian visitor Frank Stephen Ramírez, 46, was reportedly found seriously injured in Medellín’s Laureles neighborhood during the early hours of Sunday. Local reports cited in the account said he had sustained approximately 25 stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, and investigators were examining the circumstances of the attack, including a possible robbery.

Authorities had not established a connection between the two deaths and the assault. Each case remains a separate investigation, and no shared cause has been confirmed.

Remembering Ajay Bhatnagar’s Medical Career

Beyond the circumstances surrounding his reported death, Bhatnagar was recognized for his work in cancer treatment. Born in London, he spent much of his childhood in Pennsylvania before studying bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated magna cum laude.

He subsequently earned a medical degree and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and completed postgraduate training in radiation oncology at the university’s medical center.

His professional career included founding the Prostate Cancer Institute of Arizona and working with hospitals through Alliance Oncology. His clinical work included prostate brachytherapy, a treatment that uses radioactive implants to target cancer cells. According to the supplied account, he was also recognized in the Nationwide Registries’ Top Doctors of America Honors Edition in 2023.

EDC’s Colombian Debut Under Scrutiny

EDC held its first Colombian edition at Medellín’s Atanasio Girardot sports complex on October 10 and 11. Organized by Insomniac in partnership with Páramo Presenta, the festival featured electronic music performances across multiple stages and attracted substantial international attention.

The reported incidents have prompted questions about medical preparedness, event security, and the safety of visitors traveling around the city. However, the information provided does not establish that festival organizers were responsible for any of the cases.

Investigators must determine the circumstances surrounding each incident before conclusions can be drawn about the causes or whether any security failures occurred.

For Bhatnagar’s family, friends, and medical colleagues, his reported death represents the loss of a physician whose career focused on cancer treatment and patient care. As investigations continue, confirmed information from Colombian authorities will be essential to understanding what happened during the festival weekend.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the supplied account. The deaths, medical details, reported injuries, and investigative developments have not been independently verified for this draft. Suspected substance involvement, robbery, and possible security concerns should not be treated as established facts without official confirmation.