A man died and six others were injured Friday afternoon when a large sign fell on a crowd at the Big Church Festival in Wiston Park, near Steyning in West Sussex. Sussex Police were called to the scene at about 15:38 BST. The victim was a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Four of the six injured were taken to local hospitals. Two of them had serious injuries, according to South East Coast Ambulance Service. Festival organizers canceled the remainder of the event, which had been scheduled to continue through Sunday.
Author Andrew Ollerton described the moment on social media. "My wife Charlotte and I were walking just a few paces behind when a huge overhead sign came crashing down on the people in front of us," he said. "We rushed with others to lift the sign off them and then administered first aid with others as best we could until the paramedics arrived."
Judah Martin, a 20-year-old from Kent attending the festival, said he saw vehicles speeding toward the area before campers were told to return to their tents immediately. With no internet connection available, information spread by word of mouth. "The sign in question was a huge wooden sign on the top of a hill which we walked under earlier that day," Martin told Your Voice.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, said she was "sad and shocked" to hear about the fatal incident. "I pray for his family, friends and loved ones as they grieve. I pray for those receiving treatment, and the healthcare workers looking after them," she said. "And I pray too for the other festival goers, staff and event organisers as they come to terms with these tragic events."
Organizers said they were working with emergency services, police, and the Health and Safety Executive as authorities establish the circumstances of the incident. "We are incredibly grateful to everyone who responded, and to our teams and community for the care they have shown one another," the organizers said.
The Big Church Festival, which describes itself as the UK's biggest Christian festival, was founded in 2009. Attendees had traveled from as far as Leipzig, Germany, for this year's event. Some festival-goers gathered inside after the incident and sang and prayed together.
The Health and Safety Executive investigation into the sign's collapse was continuing as of Saturday.
