A 41-year-old man died and at least six other people were injured when a large wooden sign collapsed during high winds at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:38 p.m. at Wiston Estate, near Steyning. The sign reportedly read "Everything's Unmissable."
Eyewitness Fred Abbott, who was near Tom's Stage in the Field of Fun, described hearing a "massive crack and bang" as the sign toppled. He and others rushed to help, lifting the timber board off the victims. Abbott reported seeing five people on the ground who were not moving, and he had to turn away from a man bleeding from his head and mouth.
Emergency services, including ambulance crews, critical care paramedics, and specialist response teams, were dispatched to the scene. Six patients were confirmed, and those injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The victim was identified as a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne.
The Met Office had issued warnings for windy conditions across the country for the Bank Holiday weekend. Wind speeds in Shoreham, West Sussex, were recorded at up to 27 mph on Friday afternoon. Abbott noted that while winds had picked up during the day, they did not feel severe an hour before the incident.
In a statement, Big Church Festival organizers expressed devastation over the incident and announced the cancellation of the remainder of the event. They stated that their thoughts were with those affected and their families. The festival, described as the UK's largest annual Christian music event, was expected to draw around 40,000 attendees.
Author Andrew Ollerton, who was scheduled to perform at the festival, reported being a few paces behind when the sign fell. He shared on Instagram his shock and thanked the festival team for their actions, while also offering prayers for the family of the deceased.
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh confirmed the tragic nature of the incident and urged anyone with information or video footage to come forward to assist with the investigation, dubbed Operation Igloo. Local MP Andrew Griffith also expressed concern and shared his thoughts with those impacted.
