THREE IN SYDNEY HOSPITALS AFTER TAKING DESIGNER DRUG

Three people were taken to hospital in a semi-conscious state after taking illicit drugs at an overnight rave party, the ambulance service said.

All three had taken GBH, gaba-hydroxybutyric-acid, also known as 'grievous bodily harm' at a party held at Lady Macquarie's Chair in Sydney's Botanic Gardens, a spokeswoman said.

One man was taken from the gardens to St Vincent's Hospital shortly after midnight in a semi-conscious state.

Another two people among the partygoers, who went from the gardens to the Home nightclub in Darling Harbour, were taken to hospital early today.

A man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital shortly before 4am and a woman was taken to St Vincent's shortly after 5am.

"Both had taken GBH at the rave party earlier," the spokeswoman said.

The incidents followed last weekend's death of a 26-year-old Ryde supermarket manager who took ecstasy at a rave party on the outskirts of Sydney.