- Were you involved in the surge? Email: [email protected]
- People on social media reported claims of broken ankles, legs and drink spiking
Footage shows the moment throngs of fans cause a 'terrifying' crowd surge at Boardmasters music festival in Newquay, which left people crying in agony with broken bones.
During DJ and producer Sammy Virji's performance on The Point stage, two 'massive' crowd surges were reported, forcing his performance to be cancelled.
Concertgoers revealed they were left with broken bones and were covered in blood as they were 'submerged' beneath each other, with some even claiming speakers fell on to people.
Boardmasters also revealed that seven people were transferred to hospital following the crowd collapse with minor injuries and have now been discharged.
Multiple attendees also told MailOnline they believed people had been spiked, though this was denied by a spokesperson for the festival.
One mum told MailOnline: 'My 16 year old daughter is currently at Boardmasters. She messaged me last night on Snapchat saying her friend was hurt, she had seen people’s bones breaking and that she had other people’s blood all over her, she thought people had broken legs and even necks.
Footage shows the moment throngs of fans caused a 'terrifying' crowd surge during DJ and producer Sammy Virji's performance at Boardmasters music festival in Newquay
At one moment in the video, a mass of people can be seen gathered on some sort of platform above the rest of the crowd
'She was in a state of shock and said that everyone had been screaming, with many injured people who had got out of the crush lying on the ground screaming in pain.
'She said there was no crowd control whatsoever and the warm up dj that was playing did not stop or intervene. She said there were no measures in place to prevent the crowd surging with partitions or extra barriers.
'I have been to several festivals and I know how intense the crowds can be, but without proper safety measures they are incredibly dangerous and potentially lethal.
'Receiving a message like that is a parent’s worst nightmare. Thank God both she and all her friends are ok, but somebody could very easily have been killed.'
She went on to say she was 'horrified' with the festival organisers and her daughter had a 'very lucky escape.
Katie Mirzayantz claimed the crowd surge at Boardmasters is 'being massively downplayed by the festival'.
Several attendees have told MailOnline that people broke bones and were screaming in pain
Footage shows huge swarms of crowds gathering by the tent where there was a reported crowd surge
'I was at the point stage with my teenage daughter, cousin and my daughters friend. When the surge happened evert single person in the crowd hit the floor.
'My daughter and her friend was trapped under a couple of men and crushed. My sister was crushed, hit her head and her nose was broken whilst being crushed under quite a few men.
'Either side of us two people broke their legs. My sister was covered in blood and the medics team dismissed her to deal with other people.
She added: 'Boardmasters stating that there were no serious injuries and that it was a small crowd and that only a small number of people were injured is a complete lie.
'Bones were broken on three separate people around me and that was in a small area of space. There were no security guards anywhere to be seen. As my teenage cousins first festival this has made her terrified of crowds.
'To say a small crowd and no serious injuries is just not true.
'This was a serious incident, a tsunami of people and it was traumatising and terrifying experience for the teenagers with me.'
Concertgoers have been injured in a crowd surge during Boardmasters festival in Cornwall
Leftfield Perform at Boardmasters in Watergate Bay, Cornwall, yesterday evening
Sammy Virji's DJ set on The Point Stage had to be cancelled following the surge
Both the police and the festival organisers confirmed that no one was seriously injured
Flora Brady echoed these statements, saying: 'Last nights pile up at Sammy Vergy was traumatising.
'My legs were fully submerged by a pile up of people, and my friend next to me had her elbow fractured. I was terrified and uncontrollably crying.
'Later in the night my friend was spiked with MDMA and spent the night passed out in the medical tent. This is a shambles and I want my money and safety back.'
Louise Price said her son was a 'victim of a ketamine spike injection' last night, and claimed none of her son's group - 15 in total - were security checked and were only asked if they had alcohol.
Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: 'We were notified following a crowd collapse at Boardmasters music festival in Newquay on Friday 9 August which left a small number of attendees injured.
'The injured parties were treated on-site by medical staff and a small number were taken to hospital to be checked over for minor injuries.
'Contrary to speculation, we can confirm that there have been no deaths as a result of this incident. This is an isolated incident and the festival continues.'
In a statement, the festival organisers said there were no reports of serious injuries and the planned set by DJ and producer Sammy Virji was cancelled.
Boardmasters said: 'We can confirm that Sammy Virji's set was cancelled and that The Point stage was closed to allow onsite teams to respond to an incident in the audience.
'No serious injuries have been reported and the pit and medical teams immediately assisted those involved. Safety is our number one priority and we thank Sammy and our audience for their understanding.
Devon and Cornwall Police revealed how some people have been taken to hospital with their injuries
Festivalgoers have enjoyed stunning weather so far at the festival to start the weekend
Boardmasters is set to continue following the surge, and other sets will go ahead as normal
'All other stages have been unaffected and performances continue as planned.'
DJ Sammy Virji said he was 'gutted' about his set being cancelled but 'safety should always come first'.
In a post on his Instagram, he said: 'I'm incredibly gutted about the stage cancellation for Boardmasters, whilst I'm absolutely honoured at the amount of people who turned up, crowd surges can be very serious and safety should always come first.
'The stoppage was completely out of my hands and hope you all understand the festival needed to prioritise everyone's wellbeing. Hopefully catch you all soon at another set.'
Revellers had been enjoying a toasty start to the Cornish festival as the country prepares for a week end of sizzling heat.
But it appears they were not so lucky today as pictures showed rain and miserable conditions in Cornwall.
Britain is set to sizzle in a 'short-lived but quite intense' spell of hot weather this weekend with temperatures building up to 34C in a mini-heatwave.
This will come as welcome news to festival goers this weekend who have gathered at the Newquay for a weekend of good music and even better music.
The roasting hot weather caused some disruption at the festival yesterday as festival staff were pictured handing out cups of water to thirsty revellers.
