Participant dies at Burning Man amid severe weather conditions
A man in his mid-50s died from a medical emergency at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, where heavy rain and mud have repeatedly closed the event gates.
A man in his mid-50s died at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada, after experiencing a medical emergency, organizers said on Thursday. The attendee was taken to the event’s on-site emergency medical center, where he was later pronounced dead. His name has not been released pending notification of his family.
The Burning Man Project, which runs the annual gathering of about 70,000 people, declined to provide further details about the circumstances of the death. The incident occurred as the desert region faced heavy rain, strong winds and thick mud that have forced the closure of the festival’s entrance gates multiple times, according to the Black Rock City Dashboard.
The week’s challenges also included another emergency: a man fell two levels from the 55-foot Nest Tower at the Square One camp, sustaining serious injuries to his head, ribs and hip, as reported earlier.
Event officials continue to monitor weather conditions and safety concerns as the festival, which runs through Sept. 7, proceeds.