A tragic incident unfolded Friday afternoon at a Christian festival when a sign fell on attendees, leaving six people injured and one dead at the scene in Wiston Park, West Sussex. The Big Church Festival, which bills itself as the UK's biggest Christian gathering, was founded in 2009.
Sussex Police stated they were alerted at about 15:38 BST on Friday, August 28. Officials confirmed that a man in his 40s from Eastbourne, East Sussex, died at the scene. Following the incident, organisers cancelled the remainder of the event via an Instagram post, urging attendees to leave the site immediately.
The Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, issued a statement expressing profound shock and sorrow. "I will pray for his family, friends and loved ones as they grieve. I also pray for those receiving treatment and the healthcare workers looking after them," she said.
The festival, scheduled to run from August 28 to August 30, was called off following the tragedy. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward as investigations continue into the exact cause of the structural failure.