A 41-year-old man from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was pronounced dead after a heavy wooden sign reading “Everything’s Unmissable” fell on festival-goers at the Big Church Festival (BCF) near Steyning, West Sussex, on Friday afternoon. Six other people were injured in the incident, which organisers described as a “serious incident”.
Police were called to the festival site off Washington Road just after 3.30pm, and the South East Coast Ambulance Service treated six people at the scene. Four of those patients were taken to local hospitals, including two with more serious injuries and two with less serious injuries.
Witnesses describe moment sign fell
Fred Abbott, of Morden, South London, told the Daily Mail that a “strong gust of wind” toppled the sign as he and his family were nearby. He said: “We were by Tom’s Stage in the Field of Fun, about 20 metres away from where this massive wooden sign was. We heard this massive crack and bang, and me and my friend ran over. There were around 30 to 50 people, including me and my friend, picking up this sign. It read: ‘Everything’s Unmissable’.”
Andy Ollerton, a theologian and author, was walking “just a few paces” behind when “a huge overhead sign came crashing down on the people in front of us”. In an Instagram post, 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 but tragically, one of those people, we’ve now heard, lost his life. So, we’re absolutely reeling, devastated, as you can imagine, and in a bit of shock as well. I am sure many others who witnessed it were too.”
Festival cancelled and questions raised
Mr Ollerton said many people would have questions about the incident, adding: “Why did this happen? Why did this happen at human level? What went wrong, but also why did God let this happen? I suppose is the deeper question that I’m sure you’re feeling too.” He praised BCF for taking “decisive action in difficult circumstances” and said the crowds stayed calm and respectful.
The rest of the event, which opened on Friday and had been due to run until Sunday, has been cancelled. Festival-goers were alerted to the tragedy when God TV announced that “due to unforeseen circumstances” the BCF livestream had been paused.
Official responses and ongoing investigation
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally said she was “sad and shocked” to hear about the incident. She said: “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. And I pray too for the other festival goers, staff and event organisers as they come to terms with these tragic events. May the God of comfort and healing be with them all.”
ParentFuel, a Christian parent support organisation, said its members who attended the festival were “all devastated but safe”. In a statement, it praised BCF for the way it handled the incident and said: “What happened was awful. It was a freak accident. But God is still good.” It added: “Life is so precious and so so short. This weekend brought that ever closer for us all.”
On Saturday, festival-goer Ralph Scrutton posted: “The mood across the campsite is understandably subdued and melancholy, with people slowly waking up, packing down, and getting ready to leave the site. There’s a real sense of quietness this morning, with people reflecting on the events of yesterday. Keep praying church, for all those involved.”
Sussex Police said the deceased’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. The incident has been reported to the health and safety executive and local authority. Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh said: “I recognise the immense distress this will have caused people at the festival, and we are working with a number of partners as we seek to establish exactly what happened. We know there were thousands of people at the festival and we’re urging anyone with any information, or any relevant video footage, to please come forward.”
Anyone with information which could help police is asked to report it online or call 101 quoting Operation Igloo.
