A second man has died at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, authorities confirmed Saturday. The 60-year-old, identified as Craigh Mann, was discovered deceased in his camp around 3 p.m. The Burning Man Project reported the incident, and no cause of death has been released.
Mysterious circumstances surround the death of Mann, with friends and family posting tributes on social media, suggesting he died surrounded by loved ones. His partner shared photos of them together at the festival, accompanied by the caption, "My Mann."
The second death follows the discovery of another festivalgoer, believed to be in his 50s, who was found unresponsive around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. First responders were unable to revive him. The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office is conducting autopsies for both individuals, and foul play is not currently suspected in either case, according to Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen. There is no indication that the two deaths are related.
These incidents occurred before the festival's signature temple burning ceremony, which marks the culmination of the event.
The festival has also faced logistical challenges due to intense rainfall on Friday, which transformed the desert playa into mud. Burning Man's gates were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, and attendees who had not yet arrived were advised to delay their travel.
This is not the first time fatalities have occurred at Burning Man. Last year, a homicide was reported when Vadim Kruglov, a Russian national, was found fatally stabbed. No arrests have been made in that case nearly a year later.
Recent data indicates a shift in the festival's demographic, with a growing proportion of attendees in their 40s and 50s, while the number of younger participants, particularly those in their 20s, has declined. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that last year, the share of attendees in their 50s surpassed those in their 20s. The event, which gained significant popularity in the 2010s among Millennials, continues to attract this demographic as they have aged into their 40s.
The festival's reputation has also been affected by past incidents, including the 2023 event where over 70,000 people were stranded in severe mud conditions after heavy rain.
