Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Teenager dies at Reading Festival

Chris Bunting
Tuesday 26 August 2003 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A man of 18 was found dead at the Reading Festival yesterday. Emergency services and friends tried to revive the man at a campsite near Cow Lane for nearly an hour after police found him unconscious.

The man, believed to be from Leighton Buzzard, was pronounced dead at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Inspector John Ramsbottom, of Thames Valley Police, said scenes-of-crime and CID officers were called.

"We don't know the cause of death," he said. "There are few physical marks on the body or other indications. We will have to wait for a full examination."

Another man, in his 20s, was knocked over by a water-tanker as he left the festival's main entrance and trapped face-down underneath. Paramedics and firefighters took more than an hour to free him. He is in hospital, said to be in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.

Police said crime was down on last year. Most of the 60 arrests were for thefts from tents and festival-goers. But there were also 164 alleged drug offences, an alleged indecent assault and a man had part of his ear bitten off. Officers seized cannabis, crack cocaine and ecstasy. Last year, 740 crimes were recorded.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in