By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post
Organizers closed the Big Church Festival, Britain’s largest Christian music festival, on its opening day Friday out of compassion for victims after a sign fell and killed one person and injured six others near Steyning, West Sussex.
The three-day festival began Friday and had been scheduled to run through Sunday. Organizers first told the public the festival was on hold because of a serious on-site incident, then announced hours later that the event was over for good, The Telegraph reported.
In an Instagram post shortly after 5:30 p.m., organizers told attendees that Friday’s show had been canceled and that all day visitors needed to leave the site immediately.
Earlier Friday, a message posted on the main stage’s video screen informed the crowd that the show had halted for reasons outside organizers’ control. Campers were told to return to the campsite immediately, while non-campers were instructed to remain in the main arena.
Organizers later said the campsite would remain open overnight for those who wanted to stay, and that other attendees were free to travel home.
The man who died at the scene was aged 41 and from Eastbourne, East Sussex, according to Sussex Police. His family had been told, and specialist officers were supporting them.