Woman fractures knee at Boardmasters protest

A woman who attended a music festival in Cornwall said she suffered a broken knee during a crowd surge on Friday.

Jade Brooks, 23, said the Boardmasters event in Newquay was a “disgrace” after “about 10 people” fell on her during a “crowd crush”.

She then “heard the crack as someone landed on it.”

Organisers said “experienced stand management and security teams” were in place “along with robust medical and welfare arrangements”.

Ms Brooks, who is based in Yorkshire, said she arrived on stage at The Point with her brother, 17, and cousin, 19, an hour before the DJ’s set.

She said: “We then stood up to get a good view of the stage as more and more people poured in.

“That’s where we were pushed by people trying to get past, which meant we ended up packed in like sardines.”

She said she wanted to get out of the crowd, but everywhere she turned there was “no way out.”

“The crowd then fought back and knocked everyone down, I was the bottom person and about 10 people fell on my legs,” she said.

“I was screaming, ‘My legs,’ when I heard the crack as someone landed on them.”

Ms Brook, who is a dancer and works in hospitality, said security told her to go to the welfare tent where “hundreds of people were waiting”.

The next morning, she said she “woke up in agony” and her leg was “swollen to twice its usual size.”

She went to the emergency room where an X-ray revealed a fractured knee.

Ms Brooke said: “The board directors are a disgrace. They should have put in place security measures to stop people coming in to reduce the number of people and avoid crowds.

“I want my money back, as well as compensation for wasting my vacation and when I get home I won’t be able to work for more than a month.”

The festival has suffered several injuries this year, including patrons confirming on Saturday that seven people were taken to hospital “for preventive examination”.

On Sunday, bosses added that “experienced stand management and security teams” were “in place across the festival with robust medical and welfare arrangements including highly experienced and trained medical, welfare and safeguarding staff”.

They added: “These teams are available in the main arena and on the campsites 24 hours a day, to respond to anything our audience may need.”

Devon and Cornwall Police said on Saturday they had received reports of a “crowd collapse” at the festival on Friday, which “resulted in a small number of injuries”.

Police added: “Contrary to speculation, we can confirm that there have been no fatalities as a result of this incident.”

Additional reporting by Aisling Grace and PA Media.