S Poddar
The crowds at the Boardmasters music festival in Newquay got a scare on Friday when a surge in the crowd left several attendees injured. A lady victim described the scariest moment of her life, caught up in what she termed as a “massive crowd surge,” raising questions on how chaotic it could be at the event.
The incident occurred at a festival in the picturesque coastal town, which had attracted thousands of music fans. Devon and Cornwall police said that a “small number” of festival-goers were injured in the crush. Some received medical attention at the scene while others were taken to hospital for further assessment and examination. Luckily, none of those injuries was assessed to be life-threatening, and officers said it was an isolated incident. The festival would go on, but not without some changes.
Those changes included canceling a performance by DJ and producer Sammy Virji. His set was called off, along with a temporary closure of the Point stage, to allow on-site teams to address the incident. In an statement, organizers reiterated their commitment to safety while telling attendees that medical response teams reacted quickly to those in need at this weekend’s P_latitude Festival. They have also extended their thanks both to Sammy Virji and the understanding of the festival-going public as they handled the situation.
Yet, to those inside the chaos, it was anything but business as usual. The woman who spoke to PA Media told of being nearly squished against barriers alongside her daughter as the crowd surged forward. Fearing things could go completely out of control, she lifted her daughter over one barrier and pulled herself clear of the crowd. Her warnings to security about what was brewing, though, appeared to fall on deaf ears—a situation which only added to her frustration and concern.
The incident puts into question the issue of crowd management and safety at mega-events, with events like Boardmasters continuing to increase the numbers. Organizers have stressed that the safety of all attendees is a top priority; however, those experiences underline the risks that come when hundreds or thousands of people are working or having fun in a confined space. The rapid response of medical teams and lack of serious injuries were minor consolations, but the memories of the “terrifying” experience are likely to remain for those caught in the surge.
The other stages of the festival, though, were not affected, and performances went ahead as usual, allowing the attendees to enjoy the rest of the event. Boardmasters is a famous event that combines music, surfing, and vibes from the beach, which has become part and parcel of the UK festival scene, drawing crowds from all over. This incident should act as a precautionary measure in conducting vigilance and preparedness to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants in such events.
As the event unfolds, it most definitely will stay focused on keeping a safe environment inside for everyone involved. The swiftness of the organizers in responding and clearly communicating with all will be the key to holding on to trust and thus allowing the rest of the event to carry on smoothly. While the crowd surge incident perhaps cast a shadow over Friday’s festivities, resilience from festivalgoers and dedication from event staff showed Boardmasters’ spirit very much alive.
