A 41-year-old man died and six other people were injured after a large sign collapsed at the Big Church Festival in Wiston Park, West Sussex, on Friday. The incident occurred around 3:38 PM BST, prompting Sussex Police to respond to the scene. The festival, which was scheduled to run from Friday to Sunday, was subsequently canceled by its organizers.

The Big Church Festival, described as the UK's largest Christian festival and founded in 2009, was underway when the tragedy struck. Organizers stated they are "devastated" by the fatal incident and are cooperating with emergency services, police, and the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sign's collapse.

Among the injured, four were transported to local hospitals for further treatment, with two sustaining serious injuries. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, expressed her sadness and shock, offering prayers for the deceased's family and friends, as well as for those receiving medical care and the event's attendees and organizers.

Eyewitness accounts described a scene of immediate shock and distress. One attendee, Andrew Ollerton, recounted being just paces behind when the "huge overhead sign" fell, and he and others rushed to provide first aid until paramedics arrived. Another festival-goer, Judah Martin, observed emergency vehicles speeding to the area and campers being instructed to return to their tents.

Festival organizers expressed gratitude for the swift response of emergency services and the support shown by their teams and the festival community. They acknowledged the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the event following the incident.

Social media posts from attendees reflected the somber mood. Rayanne Walters noted hearing people crying throughout the night due to the upsetting nature of the event. Jessica Schuffenhauer, who traveled from Germany, described attendees uniting in song and prayer following the incident.

Carla Diamond, attending with friends, highlighted the initial uncertainty about who was directly involved and the safety of loved ones. Peter Heard also shared feelings of bewilderment among his group following the event.

The investigation into the cause of the sign collapse is ongoing, with authorities working to establish the exact circumstances that led to the fatal accident and subsequent injuries.