At the Pitfest in Emmen, one person died during the Gorilla Biscuits performance. The organizers ended the festival out of respect – all information about the incident.
A person in the audience died at the Dutch festival Pitfest. The organizers then canceled all further appearances at the event.
The hardcore, punk and metal festival began on June 4th in Emmen, Netherlands and was scheduled to last until June 6th. This year the event celebrated its 10th anniversary. However, on the last day of the festival there was a death in the crowd: a person required medical attention during the band Gorilla Biscuits’ performance. Despite quick action by the emergency services, help was unsuccessful. In a statement, the organizers spoke of a natural cause of death. The online magazine “Lambgoat” specifies and cites a heart attack as the reason for the death.
Mourning at the Pitfest
After the operation, the organizers canceled all other performances and ended the festival early. They later wrote in their statement on Instagram and the Pitfest website: “Out of respect for the deceased, his family, friends and everyone affected by the sad news, we have decided to cancel the live music at this time.” They then expressed their sadness and sympathy for the relatives of the deceased: “Our thoughts are with those who mourn. Words are not enough in such moments. We wish them strength and energy as they come to terms with this loss.” They also thanked everyone who helped during the operation – rescue workers and visitors.
Community support
The comments under the Instagram statement and the previous posts show the festival goers’ great understanding. Numerous visitors expressed their condolences and praised the decision of the Pitfest organizers. “Terrible news for the friends of the deceased and those grieving. I have a lot of respect for your decision,” was one of the comments.
The 10th anniversary was supposed to be the final outdoor edition of the Pitfest. The festival, as its fans and visitors knew it, ends with tragic news. However, the Pitfest community is united behind the early end and is mourning the death together.