UK rock band Radiohead were due to take to the Downsview park stage in Toronto, Canada - however, when the stage collapsed unexpectedly, causing the death of one individual, the band have had to cancel their sold-out performance because of ‘unforeseen circumstances.’
The fatal collapse happened just an hour before the gates were due to open for the concert, with fans already beginning to form queues outside the venue. Emergency crews were immediately sent to the scene, with the band taking to Twitter to explain that there their show would be cancelled due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.’
Toronto police have said that the stage collapsed at 4PM local time and that a man had died in his 30s, but didn’t reveal his identity – the victim was involved with setting up the stage, officials said.
Alexandra Halbert, who was working in a beer tent at the show, said she was about 200-300 yards away from the stage, with her back to it, when she heard "something that sounded like fireworks".
"I turned around and the whole top part of the stage had collapsed, as well as the scaffolding," she told the BBC.
"It seemed like there were a couple of minutes of hesitation and no one knew quite what to do. It was only afterwards that we all realised how serious it was."
Jason Ip, a food vendor, said there was "chaos" as people waited for the emergency services to arrive.
"A few people started running towards the stage. No one knew exactly what had happened, but it was clear that people were underneath the stage," he said.
"It was like witnessing a car accident. In a situation like that, you just aren't sure how to react."
40,000 were expected to attend the sold-out gig. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the victim.
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