Stage Collapse At Derbyshire Music Festival Injures 3

May 18, 2009 2:08 p.m. EST

Derbyshire, England (CNS) - A music festival in Hulland Ward has turned catastrophic when the stage collapsed from heavy winds on Saturday, injuring three.

According to Derbyshire police, strong winds lifted part of the roof off the stage at Hulland Ward village's Bearded Theory festival. Three people, who suffered suspected broken wrist, shoulder and back and neck problems, were taken by ambulance to the Derby Royal Infirmary as result of the accident. Several people were also treated for shock.

The stage was closed following the accident. Two other stages in the festival remained open.

Site manager Sally Booth blames a "freak gust of wind" for the accident.

She tells Times Online, "It's been raining and windy all day but this was a freak gust of wind that was capable of knocking people over."

"When it happened everybody did what they had to do and more. The emergency services responded very quickly."

The festival, which hopes to enter the Guinness Book of Records for having the most number of goers in one place wearing false beards, continued overnight.

Organizer James Willis said, "True to the festival spirit the personnel and festival-goers pulled together to ensure the continued running of the festival."