Sign collapse at West Sussex Christian festival kills one, injures six others
A large wooden sign fell at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex, killing a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne and injuring six more people.
At about 15:38 BST on Friday, Sussex Police responded to an incident at the Big Church Festival held at Wiston Park near Steyning, West Sussex, where a large wooden sign fell near the entrance to a tented area. The collapse killed a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne and injured at least six additional attendees. Festival organisers expressed devastation over the tragedy and decided to cancel the rest of the festival, which had been scheduled to run through Sunday.
They are working with emergency services, police and the Health and Safety Executive to determine the cause of the accident. Police have appealed for witnesses to provide any relevant information. The event, founded in 2009, describes itself as the UK's biggest Christian festival.
Why it matters
The incident highlights safety concerns at large public gatherings and has led to the cancellation of a major UK festival.
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