'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQF/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAANy4FS//xAAgEAABBAEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBQAHFzNCRZPS/9oACAEBAAE/ALHVe0etK6TEbGPRoYPrGHmdbXoZZvyiePL1p95//8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIREv/aAAgBAgEBPwDbU//EABkRAAEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAhITIf/aAAgBAwEBPwCtsUw//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The annual Boardmasters Festival has seen a significant surge in the number of attendees this year. As per a statement by Devon and Cornwall police, a small number of the concertgoers have been injured due to the crowd surge on August 9. The police also reported that the injuries were not serious and that the affected individuals had been treated on the site and also at the hospital.
While most of the other performances remained unaffected, DJ Sammy Virji’s set had to be canceled. Labeling the mishap as an ‘isolated incident’, the police confirmed that no deaths were reported after to the incident. The post read,
“We were notified following a crowd collapse at Boardmasters music festival in Newquay on Friday 9 August which left a small number of attendees injured. The injured parties were treated on-site by medical staff or were taken to hospital to be checked over for minor injuries."
Trending
The post continued,
"Contrary to speculation, we can confirm that there have been no deaths as a result of this incident. This is an isolated incident, and the festival continues.”
Boardmasters Festival’s official X handle released a post stating that the reason why Sammy Virji’s set had to be canceled was to let their on-site teams handle the crowd. Another tweet was posted thanking the DJ and record producer for being considerate. The post also added that safety of the attendees was their top-most priority.
An estimated 58,000 people attended the Boardmasters Festival
The festival was granted official permission to increase its capacity from 53,000 to 58,000 people this year by the Cornwall Council. Previously, it had been reported that the queues had posed problems for the festival attendees to reach their destination. Some were also reported to have left their lifts on the roads to walk the rest of the way to the venue.
This incident at the Boardmasters Festival led to a flood of tweets on X with users coming up with their experiences. While many commented on the lack of infrastructure at the Boardmasters Festival, others simply raised concerns of safety. Reportedly, phone connectivity was also an issue at the festival.
“Do not send your kids to @boardmasters it’s gone from a fun festival to an overcrowded drug infested unorganised mess. Last nights crush is no surprise the place is over sold & there is no infrastructure, the stewards agree..What a disgrace..They should have there license removed”, an X user wrote.
“The Sammy Virij situation at Boardmasters just proves that festivals really need to stop putting in demand, popular artists on smaller stages. It’s really just not safe”, another post read.
“@boardmasters could you plse publicise how to contact management and/or complaints dept?Daughter & friends were involved TWICE in dangerous & scary crowd collapses.There's no phone signal & you've increased the capacity to totally uncontrollable levels @DC_Police @NewquayCouncil”, a user wrote.
The Boardmasters Festival started on August 7 and will continue till August 11. It is held at the usual destination on the Cornish Coast. This year’s guests included Stormzy, Sam Fender, Chase & Status and others. The festival has been in place since 2014. It looks forward to hosting 65,000 attendees in 2025.
