Man dies after running into flaming 'Burning Man'
Nuradilla Noorazam
September 4, 2017 16:57 MYT
September 4, 2017 16:57 MYT
A Burning Man participant evades a chasing firefighter and runs into the flames of the "Man Burn" after evading the attempted tackles of multiple rangers and law enforcement personnel at the annual Burning Man arts, music fest. - Photo by Reuters/Ji
A burning man attendee has died after running into a flaming statue at the Nevada’s Black Rock Desert annual festival on Sunday night.
Pershing County Sheriff’s Jerry Allen said the man, identified as Aaron John Mitchell, 41, ran through two levels of security comprising of law enforcement personnel and rangers to reach the fire which towers 50 feet into the air.
Graphic photos of the incident revealed the tragic moments when he entered the huge wooden effigy and was immediately engulfed by flames with the emergency response team’s efforts to save him.
Rescue efforts were delayed as fire personnel who attempted to pull him out had to evade falling portions of the structure.
The Sheriff said that the rescuers had to wait until the course was clear for them to go back into the flames and rescue Mitchell from the debris.
He was airlifted to the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California and was pronounced dead at the hospital in the morning, said the sheriff’s office.
According to CNN, the medical staff at UC Davis Medical Center said the toxicology screening on Mitchell is pending but it was confirmed that he was not under the influence of alcohol.
More than 70,000 gatherers who attended the nine-day annual festival in Northern Nevada were left stunted after witnessing the incident
Allen said the authorities are facing difficulties to continue their investigation and gather information when the participants left the event area. In a statement, he said, “"Our hearts and prayers go out to Aaron's family during this unexpected tragedy,".
The event organiser cancelled the rest of the burning programs and released a statement on its website on the man’s death.
“"We're aware this incident has affected not only those who responded immediately on the scene, but also those who witnessed it, and our Black Rock City community more broadly. We are working to make resources available to those affected,"
Mitchell, who grew up in McAlester, Oklahoma, was living in Switzerland with his wife. His family has been notified of his death.