- Crowd Surge at Boardmasters: Attendees injured, some reporting broken bones, after a crowd surge at the Newquay festival
- Police and Organizers: Devon and Cornwall police report no serious injuries; festival continues as planned
- Stage Closure: Sammy Virji’s set canceled for safety; other performances proceed
Police claimed concertgoers were hurt in a crowd rush at the Boardmasters music event in Newquay, with one woman describing the incident as “terrifying.”
Many have claimed being “crushed” and accusations that many, including children, have broken bones.
The celebration is set to run all weekend. Stormzy, Sam Fender, and Katy B are among the acts yet to perform.
Devon and Cornwall police reported no significant injuries and stated that the festival will proceed. They said: “We have been notified following a crowd surge at the Boardmasters music festival in Newquay on Friday, August 9, which left a small number of attendees injured.”
The injured parties are treated on-site by medical personnel or sent to a hospital for examination. None of the injuries were considered significant. “This is an isolated incident, and the festival will continue.”
One woman, who attended Tom Odell’s act at the event with her husband and two daughters, told PA Media, “It was terrifying..”
“My husband stayed outside the walls with our youngest, but my elder daughter wanted to go inside. It was alright when we arrived, but it quickly became packed, so we tried to leave. We couldn’t get out since so many people were still coming in.
“We made it to the outer edge near the walls, and I contacted a security guard to inquire why we couldn’t get out. She said there were too many people pushing in, and we were stranded.”
According to her, a “massive crowd surge” occurred afterward. “My daughter and I got crushed against the barriers so I heaved her up and over a barrier and then pulled myself out.”
Concertgoers on social media have claimed to have broken ankles and legs. One social media user reported that they had to carry a toddler with a fractured leg for two hours before reaching their car. “We were there.” They noted there were a lot of snapped legs and ankles.
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A video on TikTok appeared to show concertgoers scrambling out of a tight crowd and onto a platform.
Boardmasters stated, “We can confirm that Sammy Virji’s set was canceled, and the Point stage was closed to allow on-site teams to respond to an incident in the audience.”
“There were no significant injuries recorded, and the pit and medical staff swiftly aided everyone affected. Safety is our top priority, and we appreciate Sammy and our audience’s understanding. All other stages remain unaffected, and concerts continue as scheduled.”
DJ Sammy Virji was “gutted” that his set had to be canceled, but “safety should always come first.”
In an Instagram post, he wrote: “The stage cancelation for Boardmasters guts me; while I’m completely honored by the number of people who showed out, crowd surges may be very severe, and safety should always come first.
The pause was entirely out of my control, and I hope you all realize that the event needs to prioritize everyone’s well-being. I hope to see you all shortly at another set.
