Man Dies, Six Injured After Sign Collapse at Big Church Festival
West Sussex event cancelled as police investigate fatal incident at Wiston Estate.
Carla Rooney
A man died and six others were injured after a sign fell at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex.
Police responded to the Wiston Estate near Steyning, West Sussex, on Friday afternoon. Four injured individuals were transported to local hospitals; two sustained more serious injuries.
The festival, scheduled to run until Sunday, has been cancelled. Sussex Police are investigating the incident and have notified both the health and safety executive and the local authority.
A powerful wind gust is believed to have brought down the overhead sign, which reportedly read 'Everything’s Unmissable', onto festival-goers. Eyewitness Fred Abbott recounted the immediate aftermath: "We heard this massive crack and bang, and me and my friend ran over."
We heard this massive crack and bang, and me and my friend ran over.
Abbott further detailed the scene: "There were around 30 to 50 people, including me and my friend, picking up this sign. It read: ‘Everything’s Unmissable’."
The Met Office had issued warnings for windy conditions over the Bank Holiday weekend. Wind speeds up to 27mph were recorded in Shoreham, West Sussex.
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh acknowledged the profound distress caused, stating: "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."
McDonagh confirmed thousands attended the festival and urged anyone with information or relevant video footage to come forward. Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally offered prayers for those affected.
Dame Sarah Mullally stated: "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."
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.
Dame Sarah Mullally continued: "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, an organisation with attendees at the festival, described the event as a "freak accident"; the group noted their people were "all devastated but safe."
ParentFuel also claimed the BCF team handled the situation well and "cannot be praised enough for the way things have been handled." A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman conveyed condolences.
The spokesman stated: "Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly lost his life, and with everyone affected by this tragic incident." Ralph Scrutton observed the mood across the campsite as "understandably subdued and melancholy," with attendees reflecting on the previous day's events.
The Big Church Festival, founded in 2009 and describing itself as the UK's biggest Christian festival, now faces intense scrutiny as the investigation into the sign's collapse continues.