A 41-year-old man has died and at least six other people have been injured after a large sign fell at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex.
Sussex Police confirmed on Friday night that the man, who was from Eastbourne, died at the scene following the incident at Wiston Park near Steyning.
His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Police were called at approximately 3.38pm on Friday, 28 August following reports that a large sign had fallen and injured a number of people at the festival site in Washington Road.
At least six other people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
Police have not yet publicly confirmed the conditions of those who were taken to hospital.
South East Coast Ambulance Service deployed ambulance crews, critical care paramedics and specialist response teams following the incident.
Officers from Sussex Police also attended alongside other emergency services.
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh described the incident as tragic and said police were working with a number of partners to establish exactly what happened.
Thousands of people were attending the festival at the time and police are now appealing for witnesses and anyone with relevant video footage to come forward.
The investigation is being conducted under the name Operation Igloo.
The Health and Safety Executive and the relevant local authority have both been informed about the incident.
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Big Church Festival paused its programme following the incident and confirmed that no further programme would take place on Friday.
Day visitors were instructed to leave the site, while people camping at the festival were told to return to their campsites and await further information.
A section of the A283 was also temporarily closed between Washington Roundabout and the B2135 Horsham Road to allow emergency services to respond.
Police and partner agencies remained at the festival site on Friday night.
Big Church Festival 2026 was scheduled to run from Friday, 28 August until Sunday, 30 August at the Wiston Estate.
The event describes itself as the UK’s biggest Christian festival and attracts thousands of visitors for a programme of live music, worship and entertainment.
Its published schedule had originally included entertainment until midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
At this stage, investigators have not publicly established why the large sign fell.
Any suggestion about the precise cause should therefore be treated as unconfirmed until police, the Health and Safety Executive, the local authority or festival organisers release further findings.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has photographs or video footage that could assist the investigation to contact Sussex Police, quoting Operation Igloo.
Further information is expected as investigators examine what happened and festival organisers determine arrangements for the remainder of the weekend.
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Sources
Sussex Police – Man Sadly Dies in Incident at Big Church Festival
