Several attendees of the music festival experienced injuries during a ‘terrifying’ surge in the crowd at the Boardmasters event in Newquay last Friday.
A mother who was present with her family highlighted a serious overcrowding issue and expressed frustration that the security personnel were not taking any action to address it.
‘Upon entering, the situation wasn’t too bad initially, but it quickly became extremely crowded, making it difficult for us to maneuver out,’ she shared.
‘We found ourselves unable to exit as more and more people were still pouring in.
‘We managed to edge towards the outer boundary close to the barriers and I approached a security officer to inquire about our inability to leave. She mentioned the ongoing influx of people making it impossible for us to move out.
‘Despite being aware of the danger, they chose not to intervene,’ she lamented.
She went on to describe a ‘significant surge in the crowd’.
‘My daughter and I were pressed against the barriers, so I lifted her over and then managed to extricate myself,’ the woman recounted.
As a result of the incident, DJ and producer Sammy Virji’s set was canceled.
The Devon and Cornwall police released a statement, saying, ‘We were informed about a crowd surge at the Boardmasters music festival in Newquay on Friday, 9 August, which resulted in a few attendees sustaining injuries.
‘The individuals injured are currently receiving medical attention on site or have been transported to the hospital for evaluation. Fortunately, none of the injuries are deemed to be serious. This is an isolated occurrence, and the festival is proceeding as planned.’
Boardmasters stated: ‘We can confirm that Sammy Virji’s performance was canceled, and the Point stage was closed to allow the on-site teams to manage an incident within the audience.
‘There have been no reports of any severe injuries, and the pit and medical teams promptly assisted those involved. Safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate Sammy and our audience for their cooperation. The other stages are unaffected, and the performances are continuing as scheduled.’
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