Glastonbury’s darkest tragedies – from man on fire to politician’s body found in toilet

Glastonbury 2024 has kicked off with a bang with thousands of festival goers descending on Somerset for the biggest music festival of the year.

It’s fair to say ticket holders are buzzing with excitement to see Dua Lipa, Shania Twain, and Coldplay topping the bill at Worthy Farm. The five-day festival is set to attract up to 200,000 people from June 26 – 30.

Also taking to the famous Pyramid stage will be LCD Soundsystem, British rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, 80s chart-topper Cyndi Lauper, and soul star Olivia Dean, alongside other stars including Keane, Paloma Faith, Janelle Monae, Michael Kiwanuka and Paul Heaton.

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But its not always glamorous at the star-studded event, with the famous festival suffering its fair share of tragedy over the years. Despite the event’s extensive safety and security measures, sometimes things can go wrong that are outside of the organisers’ control.

From revellers gone too soon to the mystery of a politician who was found dead in a VIP toilet, Daily Star takes a look back at some of the event’s darkest moments.

‘Unique’ DJ who died ‘resting’

Last year, radio DJ Jason Winder, 48, sadly died during the final day of the festival. Avon & Somerset Police said the star had suffered a “medical incident” on the old railway line footpath shortly before 4am and passed away at the scene.

His death was not treated as suspicious. The radio host had previously worked abroad presenting radio shows in Phuket, Thailand, for expats under his stage name, Jason Wilder.

Fellow DJ Tim Newton, who performed in Phuket in Thailand with Jason, shared a touching tribute to the star online. He wrote: “Such a natural-born engager and entertainer – solo behind the mic or in the company of close friends and family, or in front of thousands.

“He was certainly the best expat radio talent that ever graced a microphone in Thailand. Ultra-talented, unique, always surprising. Jason spent most of the post-Covid years working back in the UK, mostly in music and when we last spoke a few months ago, it was about Glastonbury… Glastonbury, Glastonbury, Glastonbury.

“Jason passed away whilst at the Glastonbury music festival whilst resting in his on-site tent. And he died there doing what he loved – surrounded by music, friends, and you can be sure, a lot of love and laughter. He lived large and packed a lot of life into his 48 short years. RIP, dear friend.”

Hypothermic woman saved by Paul McCartney

In 2022, a woman who waited more than seven hours to see Sir Paul McCartney collapsed just 20 minutes into his set due to hypothermia. Superfan Lisa Morris waited at the barrier with her friend Kerry, armed with snacks, cereal bars and sweets.

But despite her best efforts, Lisa soon found herself “fading” and had to be pulled from the crowd. Her removal certainly wasn’t missed by the musician, who asked: “What’s going on over there?”

The Beatles frontman gestured to bystanders to help as he added: “Is there something happening there? If so, let’s tend to it. Come on.” It was at this point Lisa was whisked away to a medical tent as Paul reassured viewers and audience members.

He said: “It’s okay we sorted it, we sorted it. There you go, mate! It wasn’t that solo I played? All right.” It was later discovered that Lisa had a dangerously low body temperature of 35C.

The nurse told ITV at the time: “I didn’t think for a minute that I had hypothermia. But when you are in it yourself, you don’t think like that. I just felt tired, but I thought I had to stick it out. I have been waiting for this moment for three years.

“I had a really big pasta bowl before I went in because I knew I’d be there a while and I thought I would be warm inside the crowd. However, there was a strong wind blowing through the Pyramid – I could feel it catching my flag, which I held up for seven hours.”

Juggler who set himself on fire

Back in 2016, a juggler died on site after suffering “significant” self-inflicted burns less than 48 hours before the five-day event kicked off. An inquest heard how the circus performer was plagued by voices telling him to take his own life.

Ashton Launcherley, 27, travelled across the world training in circus schools as a juggler. He also taught several workshops to children and performed at numerous festivals.

The artist was close to his parents and was attending the festival with his family when he passed away, a coroner’s court was told. In the weeks leading up to his death, the coroner heard that Ashton had travelled to Berlin, Bordeaux and Morocco where he lost touch with his family who tracked him via his bank records.

When he returned to England, he agreed to start taking his medication but confessed he was left feeling “zonked out” by it. The juggler promptly stopped taking his medication days later.

The family arrived at the festival site on June 17 and on June 19, the inquest heard he told his mother the voices had been “commanding” him to take his life. Ashton got up, going into the Green Field area of the festival for a sauna to try and relax.

His father, Peter Smith, had been working on the festival site and said he was made aware of a “commotion” and heard people shouting “fire”. He told the inquest in a written statement: “I could see the police were there. The commotion went on for a long time.”

As he approached the scene, he saw a black Puffa jacket and camouflage trousers like the ones Ashton had been wearing. He told the coroner: “I didn’t want to believe it was him. I didn’t want to believe it was Ashton.”

Ashton suffered 95 per cent burns and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the heart of Birmingham. He suffered multiple organ failure and died a short time later. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.

Security guard found dead

In 2019, a security guard was found dead at Glastonbury Festival. Martin Fallone, 64, was discovered lifeless in his tent during the music festival at around 5pm on Sunday, June 30.

Mr Fallone was one of the 25 officers supplied to the festival by security firm G4S. It is understood he was working night shifts during the music event, according to Somerset Live.

Paramedics said he had died from a suspected heart attack, and it was later confirmed he had passed away from natural causes.

Tory politician found dead in VIP loo

Glastonbury fans were baffled after a senior Conservative politician was found dead in a VIP toilet at Glastonbury Festival in 2011. A pathologist was initially unable to determine how Christopher Shale died during an inquest into his passing.

The 56-year-old politician was a close friend of former Prime Minister David Cameron, and was discovered slumped in a cubicle in the backstage area. The constituency chairman had been reported as missing by concerned family members at the 900-acre farm during the festival.

The inquest was adjourned and reopened at a later date when it was determined that he had died of natural causes. The coroner ruled that his death had been caused by heart disease, and confirmed that he had no drugs or drink in his system at the time of his death.

Double death

Back in 2014, a music fan was left fighting for his life after taking ketamine. The 26-year-old man was found in a “life-threatening condition” in hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to the drug.

Police warned festival-goers not to take illegal drugs prior to the event. An officer posted on X – formerly known as Twitter: “Please don’t take drugs at Glasto.

“Ketamine and alcohol dangerously affect your heart and breathing. It can be deadly and you don’t know what or how strong it is.” The young man was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, but died at the hospital hours later.

At the time, Avon and Somerset police said: “Unfortunately, the man taken ill after a suspected reaction to ketamine has died this morning. His family are aware and being supported.”

Police also revealed that a 67-year-old woman had died at the festival from natural causes. Her death was not treated as suspicious.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk