Festival-goers rushed to hospital after being crushed in crowd surge
FESTIVAL-GOERS were crushed in a crowd surge which led to a huge speaker crashing down on a stage.
Around 25 people were pulled to safety at Boardmasters. Seven were taken to hospital.
Witnesses said fans piled towards The Point stage to watch DJ Sammy Virji at 8pm on Friday.
One said: “A speaker collapsed and people were crushed in the surge.” Another man said he helped pull people on to a viewing platform for the disabled.
The witness added: “It was overcrowded. A mosh pit started then everyone hit the deck. It was like a skittle effect.
“It looked like one person was having a seizure. They were being attended to by medics. Stewards were struggling to cope.”
A mother said it “started getting very, very crowded” during singer Tom Odell’s earlier set.
She said: “My husband stayed outside the barriers with our youngest but my older daughter wanted to go inside.
“We couldn’t get out as there were still so many people streaming in.
“We got crushed against the barriers so I heaved her up and over then pulled myself out.”
Revellers also had to abandon cars and walk to the site as 58,000 descended on Newquay, Cornwall, for the festival — fronted by rapper Stormzy and electronic duo Chase & Status.
The festival said yesterday: “Following a crowd collapse at The Point last night, seven attendees were transferred to hospital nearby for precautionary examination.
“They have been treated for minor injuries and have all since been discharged.”
The DJ set was cancelled. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed it had been notified of a crowd surge which had “left a small number of attendees injured”.
The force added in a statement: “This is an isolated incident and the festival continues.”