Man, 21, dies as major music festival shut down and crowds evacuated

A young man tragically died in hospital after attending a major music festival in Kent.

People were asked to leave the Margate Drum & Bass Festival at Dreamland inKent at around 5:40pm on Saturday - around five hours before the festival was due to end. "It was just too hot day," Dreamland said in a post on X after temperatures in Margate hit 28C yesterday. "We had to close early. Get home safely."

It later emerged that a medical incident was reported at the site. A councillor sent a note to all members of Thanet District Council by the authority's chief executive Colin Carmichael last night to confirm the man, aged 21, died after being taken to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital.

READ MORE: Major music festival shut down as crowds evacuated over medical emergency

Speaking to Kent Online, the councillor said the note read: "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." Currently, the young man's cause of death is not known - and Kent Police said his death is not believed to be suspicious.

The force said: "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."

The Kent festival had upped its security measures following an incident last year in which 17-year-old girl Emily Stokes died. Her older sister Megan said Emily "tragically passed away from an overdose from being spiked" at the festival.

A licensing review ordered Dreamland to bolster its safety measures and it said it had implemented a stricter drugs policy and checks. Under 18s are no longer allowed at the venue, while there are more paramedics at high-risk events, no re-entry and age verification.

One person told Kent Online that the early closure announcement was made by artist Mozey who "came on and said everyone has to go, the venue is closing and you all need to leave now. We have a medical emergency."

The source added: "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."