Girl dies after suffering heart attack in Limp Bizkit crowd crush
update: A teenage girl who suffered a heart attack in a crowd crush at Australia’s Big Day Out festival over the weekend died on Wednesday (1/31), according to Australian press reports. The girl reportedly was trampled as the audience surged forward during Limp Bizkit 's Sydney performance.
A hospital spokesperson told the Australian Associated Press that the 15-year-old girl, identified only as Jessica, passed away peacefully and that the family requested that no further details be released. She had been listed in critical condition since she collapsed at the Friday night (1/26) show.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Jessica is believed to have fainted near the stage and to have been crushed while unconscious as the crowd surged. According to the newspaper, more than 600 people from the crowd of 55,000 were treated during the course of the day-long, multi-act event, mainly for heat exhaustion. Temperatures were in the mid-90s during the day.
“We are devastated that Jessica died and really nothing can describe the sadness and anguish we are feeling,” Limp Bizkit said in a prepared statement. “We offer sympathy, prayers, and compassion to her family and friends. The loss of her life will impact ours forever.”
Big Day Out organizers issued a statement expressing sympathy for the “tragic death.”
“Our hearts and thoughts go out to her family and friends in this time of deep sorrow,” the statement said. “The Big Day Out has always been a celebration of youth and the joy of music. It is incredibly devastating for all involved in the event that a young woman has lost her life in what should have been a joyous day of festivity with her friends.”
Organizers added that they did not wish to comment further on the situation until after an investigation into the death was complete.
Limp Bizkit departed the Big Day Out tour following Friday’s incident, accusing organizers of providing inadequate crowd control.
- Artist Links:
Wes Borland says he's focusing on new band [March 2006]
Briefly: Limp Bizkit, Paul Simon, P. Diddy, Samantha Stollenwerck [April 2005]
Briefly: Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit, Audioslave, CMA Music Festival [April 2005]
Briefly: Elton John, Peter Himmelman, Limp Bizkit, Jackson Browne [February 2005]
Briefly: Ruben Studdard, Eminem, Destiny's Child, Prince, Limp Bizkit [November 2004]
Wes Borland returns to Limp Bizkit [August 2004]
Weekend Ticketing: AC/DC, Harry Connick Jr., Smashing Pumpkins, Usher, Coldplay
Beastie Boys and friends get out the vote
3 Doors Down sketch out makeup dates
Rachael Yamagata leads 'Elephants' on tour
Calexico lines up stateside run for November
Rachael Yamagata: Exclusive Video Performance At LiveDaily Sessions
Carrie Rodriguez: Exclusive Video Performance At LiveDaily Sessions
Judith Owen: Exclusive Solo Set At LiveDaily Sessions
Rademacher: Exclusive Video Performance At LiveDaily Sessions
Calico Horse: Live And Acoustic At LiveDaily Sessions
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco 2008
David Byrne in San Francisco CA 2008
John Legend in Berkeley California 2007
The Pretenders in Sacramento CA 2007
Nikka Costa in Los Angeles CA 2008
Jonas Brothers at Mountain View CA 2008
Butthole Surfers in Austin Texas 2008
Cowboy Mouth at Voodoo Fest New Orleans 2006
Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008
Ben Folds in Boston MA 2008

