‘I don’t think many realised what was happening at first’
WITNESS TO TRAGEDY AT DOWNLOAD
A man taken from the crowd by medics as Iron Maiden began their headline set at this year’s Download Festival has died, police have confirmed.
The man, whom the force has not yet named, became ill shortly before 9pm on Saturday, following the Deftones’ performance and just moments before rock legends Iron Maiden took to the stage at the Castle Donington music festival.
Emergency services attended to him on site while the headline show got under way, before he was taken from the arena and to hospital, where he died.
Witnesses at the scene described the moment the incident happened as thousands welcomed the Saturday night headliners.
“It happened just before Iron Maiden came on and I noticed people were shouting, and then paramedics were going back and forth to help whoever it was,” one witness said.
“It was during the first song that the person was taken away. I don’t think many people realised what was happening at first.”
In a statement, Leicestershire Police confirmed it was investigating the circumstances.
“We can confirm the death of a man who had been attending the Download Festival in Castle Donington at the weekend,” said a force spokesman.
“The man became unwell at the festival on Saturday evening and was taken to the Derby Royal Infirmary where he sadly died.
“The death is currently being treated as unexplained and enquiries remain ongoing.”
The tragedy came hours after East Midlands Ambulance Service and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance were dispatched to the festival to reports of another emergency involving another festival-goer.
Reports suggest this medical incident was on the festival campsites.
“We received a call at 8.49pm on Saturday, June 11 to Castle Donington, Leicestershire, to assist with a medical emergency,” said an ambulance service spokesman.
“The air ambulance was in attendance and assisted medical teams on site.”
No further details on this incident are known, with the person’s condition also unknown.