A man has died and at least six other people have been injured after a large sign fell at a major festival in West Sussex.
Emergency services were called to the Big Church Festival at Wiston Park, near Steyning, at approximately 3.38pm on Friday, 28 August.
Sussex Police said officers responded following reports that a large sign had fallen and injured a number of people at the festival site.
A 41-year-old man from Eastbourne was pronounced dead at the scene.
His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Police said at least six other people were injured during the incident and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Emergency crews including ambulance teams, critical care paramedics and specialist responders attended Wiston Park following the incident.
The Big Church Festival had begun on Friday and had been scheduled to continue throughout the August Bank Holiday weekend until Sunday.
Organisers initially cancelled the remainder of Friday’s programme and instructed day visitors to leave the site.
They subsequently announced that the entire 2026 festival had been brought to a close following the fatal incident.
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Big Church Festival describes itself as the UK’s largest Christian festival and attracts thousands of people to the Wiston Estate.
Organisers said they were devastated by what had happened and that their immediate focus was on those directly affected, their families and friends, and people who witnessed the incident.
Sussex Police remained at the festival site while officers worked with partner agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The Health and Safety Executive and the relevant local authority have also been informed.
Police have not established publicly what caused the sign to fall.
Although reports have highlighted windy weather in parts of West Sussex around the time of the incident, there has been no official finding linking weather conditions to the sign’s collapse.
It would therefore be premature to attribute the incident to wind or any other specific cause while investigators continue their work.
A section of the A283 was temporarily closed between Washington Roundabout and the B2135 Horsham Road while emergency services responded.
Police have launched an appeal for information because thousands of people were attending the festival when the incident occurred.
Anyone who witnessed what happened or possesses relevant photographs or video footage has been asked to contact Sussex Police.
Information can be submitted online or by calling 101 and quoting Operation Igloo.
The investigation is expected to examine how the sign was installed and secured as authorities work to establish precisely what caused it to fall.
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Sources
Sky News – One Dead and Six Injured After Large Sign Falls at Christian Festival in West Sussex
Sussex Online News – Sign Falls, Kills One and Injures Several Others at Festival
