Major music festival is shut down after man, 21, dies in ‘medical emergency' with crowds evacuated

The Sun

a day ago

A 21-YEAR-OLD man has died after falling ill at a music festival yesterday.
The unidentified attendee was rushed to hospital from Margate Drum & Base Festival at Dreamland - with the event then shutdown early.
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A force spokesperson told The Sun today: "Kent Police was made aware of a report that a man in his 20s, who was taken to hospital following a medical incident at Dreamland in Margate on the afternoon of Saturday 28 June 2025, subsequently died.
"Officers are making enquiries into the circumstances of the death which is not believed to be suspicious.
"A report is being prepared for the coroner."
It comes one year on from a teenager's tragic death linked to the event.
Local councillors have reportedly been informed the young man subsequently died at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital after being blue lighted on Saturday.
An unnamed council official told KentOnline he and authority colleagues had received a note saying: 'Very sadly, a 21-year-old man was taken by blue light services from Dreamland and died at QEQM (Hospital).
'We understand that medical advisers approved the medical provisions set up by Dreamland for this event, but of course, police will carry out a proper investigation.
'We are not intending to speculate until we have the results of that.'
In a statement on Saturday evening, Kent Police had said: "We are aware of a medical incident at Dreamland in Margate, which was hosting an event that has now closed."
A spokesperson from Thanet District Council said on Sunday: "We were informed that an event at Dreamland was closed early due to the heat and a medical related incident.
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"We await further details relating to the event."
South East Coast Ambulance Service had confirmed the patient had been in a "very serious" condition.
Evacuation footage
In footage exclusive to The Sun, the 7000 strong crowd can be seen dispersing as a man on a tannoy tries to evacuate the area.
He can be heard telling festival goers: 'Everyone will be entitled to a full refund, but what they need is for everyone to please leave as easily as possible, the way that you came into the venue.
'It's a medical emergency so they have to close the entire venue.'
He continued: 'As I say, everyone's entitled to a full refund, but there's nothing we can do about it.
'It's completely out of our hands, it's due to people needing medical assistance. They're inundated.'
The festival was due to run to 10.30pm but by 5.30pm the decision was made to shut it down.
The over 18's festival was due to be headlined by Andy C, with performances from Wilkinson, K Motionz, Mozey, Basslayerz, Harriet Jaxxon, Promo Zo,and Fish56octagon.
A festival goer told Kent Online: "Mozey came on and said everyone has to go, the venue is closing and you all need to leave now. We have a medical emergency.
"There were a few angry people but most were pretty calm about it. I think they were just angry because we don't know what's going on.
"Lots of security arrived after to help get everyone out, I think they've dealt with it as well as they can."
Emily Stokes
It comes following the tragic death of 17-year-old Emily Stokes who died in hospital on the evening of June 29 last year following the festival.
Her older sister Megan later said: "My younger sister has tragically passed away from an overdose from being spiked last night in Margate."
The festival was previously called Worried About Henry, but the name was changed in light of the tragedy.
Dreamland was ordered to up its measures in a licensing review called for by police following the death.
Temperature's reached 28 in Margate on Saturday as people flocked to be by the sea - days before temperatures are set to hit 34C on Monday.
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