Battle re-enactor stabbed in face at Bodiam Castle weapons display
The 37-year-old man from Horsham, West Sussex, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton following the accident at Bodiam Castle, near Robertsbridge, East Sussex, on Sunday.
Sussex police are appealing for witnesses after the man, who has not been identified, was injured during a 'living history demonstration' at the 14th-century moated castle.
Re-enactors in full battle dress costume
The Company of the Phoenix, a 15th-century re-enactment group based in Eastbourne, who specialise in 'all aspects of medieval warfare' and boast of having an 'extensive weapons display', were scheduled to perform at the castle on Sunday as part of a medieval encampment weekend.
Sussex police said: 'A 37-year-old man, from Horsham, was wearing body armour when his opponent re-enactor's sword entered his visor during a combat re-enactment just before 3pm. He suffered a head injury and he is currently in a serious condition at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.'
Detective Inspector Barry Chandler, of Sussex Police, said the force was 'treating the incident as an accident and we are offering support to [the man's] family'.
He added: 'His opponent, a 36-year-old man also from Horsham, and the organisers are helping us with our inquiries. We know the re-enactment had drawn a large crowd and understand that anyone who witnessed the scene could have found this distressing.
'We are appealing to anyone who has photographs or videos of the interaction that led to the injury to contact us so we can gain a clear understanding of what happened.'
A National Trust spokeswoman said: 'Following the accident at National Trust's Bodiam Castle in Sussex on Sunday June 29, our thoughts and concerns are with the injured man, his family and friends.
'The safety and wellbeing of everyone on site is extremely important to us, and we are co-operating fully with the relevant authorities. As this is a police matter we are unable to comment further.''
Concerned spectators took to social media to ask the National Trust about the condition of the injured re-enactor.
Agatha Dratwa, who witnessed the incident, wrote on Facebook: 'Is the fella who got injured yesterday in the knights fight ok? Would be good to get some info please, it looked serious and we are all worried.'
The National Trust responded: 'Thank you for your concern. Like you, our very best wishes are with the injured person, their family and friends. At this time, we don't have any further information to share.'
Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, to defend the area against possible French invasion during the Hundred Years' War.
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