Big Church Festival 'devastated' as man dies after sign falls

Big Church Festival 'devastated' as man dies after sign falls

Organisers of a Christian festival have expressed their heartbreak after an accident involving a fallen sign resulted in injuries to seven individuals and the death of one man at the scene. The incident occurred during the Big Church Festival held at Wiston Park, near Steyning in West Sussex.

According to Sussex Police, they were alerted to the situation around 15:38 BST on Friday. Emergency services responded promptly, and it was later confirmed that a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne, East Sussex, lost his life as a consequence of the accident.

A representative for the festival conveyed the organisers’ sorrow, stating, “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.” The South East Coast Ambulance Service reported that four of the six injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for further medical attention, with two sustaining serious injuries.

The Big Church Festival, which began in 2009 and calls itself the UK’s largest Christian festival, started on Friday and was initially planned to run through Sunday. However, following the incident, the remaining days of the event were cancelled. The organisers have confirmed they are cooperating with police, emergency services, and the Health and Safety Executive as investigations continue into the cause of the accident. They also expressed heartfelt gratitude toward everyone who responded and commended their community for the support shown in the aftermath

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More