Britain28 August, 20262 min read
41-Year-Old Man Dies After Large Sign Falls at Big Church Festival in West Sussex
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41-year-old man died after a large sign fell at Big Church Festival, West Sussex. Six others were injured, with some taken to hospital.
Sign falls at festival
A 41-year-old man died and at least six other people were injured after reports a large sign had fallen at the Big Church Festival at Wiston Park, near Steyning, in West Sussex, police said. Sussex Police said it was called to the festival at about 15:38 BST on Friday, and the man from Eastbourne was pronounced dead at the scene while at least six people were taken to hospital.
Festival organisers said following the incident the festival would be brought to a close, and they told day visitors to leave the site now while campers were told to return to their campsites and await further updates. Witness Theo Saville said that a "large wooden sign" had collapsed near the entrance to a tented area and that "The sign fell in the direction of the wind," as an air ambulance landed soon after.
Police urge information
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh said he recognised the "immense distress this will have caused people at the festival" and urged anyone with information or relevant video footage to come forward. McDonagh told the BBC that police were working to establish what happened at the site in Washington Road and pointed people to report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Igloo.
Organisers said they were "devastated" by the serious incident in which a sign fell, injuring at least seven people, one of whom tragically lost their life, and they decided to bring Big Church Festival 2026 to a close. The Guardian reported that organisers told attenders the show had been cancelled and that all day visitors "must leave the site now" shortly after 5.30pm.
Closure and investigations
The incident prompted organisers to cancel the remainder of Friday’s programme and later confirm the whole festival had been brought "to a close," with the event due to run until Sunday before being ended early. Sussex Police said the incident had been reported to the Health and Safety Executive and the local authority, and the BBC said HSE and local authority have been informed.
“I pray for his family, friends and loved ones as they grieve.”
Sky News said police were still at the scene on Friday night and that the incident has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive and the local authority. The BBC also reported that the Archbishop of Canterbury said she was "sad and shocked" to hear about the fatal incident, and Dame Sarah Mullally said: "I pray for his family, friends and loved ones as they grieve."