Christian festival 'devastated' after man's death
Organisers of a Christian festival say they are "devastated" after a sign fell at their event and injured seven people, with one man dying at the scene.
Sussex Police said it had been called to the Big Church Festival at Wiston Park, near Steyning in West Sussex, at about 15:38 BST on Friday.
It was later confirmed a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne in East Sussex had died.
A spokesperson for the festival said: "We are devastated by the serious incident that took place at Big Church Festival 2026 today, in which a sign fell, injuring at least seven people, one of whom tragically lost their life."
South East Coast Ambulance service said four of the six people injured were taken to local hospitals for further treatment, with two people having serious injuries.
The Big Church Festival, which describes itself as the UK's biggest Christian festival, was founded in 2009.
The festival began on Friday and was due to continue until Sunday, but a decision was made by organisers to cancel the remainder of the event after the incident.
"We are working with the emergency services, police and the Health and Safety Executive as they establish the circumstances surrounding today's incident," the organisers said.
"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who responded, and to our teams and community for the care they have shown one another."
'Emotional whiplash'
The Reverend James Di Castiglione, rector of the parish of Chanctonbury in which Big Church Festival takes place, says the incident has been a "huge shock to everyone locally".
"We are all experiencing emotional whiplash about what's happened really because Big Church Festival is such a time of joy and unity and love and celebration," he added.
Di Castiglione said at the event there was "just a sense of confusion and shock that was rippling across the site".
"[It is] just the worst lightning bolt of tragic news striking everybody's hearts," he said.
Christian parent support charity ParentFuel said its people at the festival were all safe.
"We cannot praise the BCF (Big Church Festival) team enough for the way things have been handled," they said on social media on Saturday morning.
"We are currently sat in the volunteer tent with a brew in hand, worship music being played and the warmth of chatter around us."
The charity said it was a "freak accident".
"Life is so precious and so, so short. This weekend brought that ever closer for us all," they added.
Eddie MitchellTheo Saville, who was at the festival, said a "large wooden sign" had collapsed near the entrance to a tented area.
Sussex Police is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
The Health and Safety Executive and local authority had also been informed, the force added.
The Big Church Festival, which describes itself as the UK's biggest Christian festival, was founded in 2009.
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