Tragedy struck amid the long-awaited Oasis reunion tour after a man in his 40s fell to his death from the upper tiers of London’s Wembley Stadium Saturday, according to British authorities and multiple media reports.
Preliminary information suggests that the unidentified fan, situated in a section some 170 feet above the ground, fell as the band was nearing the end of the concert.
Police and medical personnel at the stadium responded to reports of the fatal incident just after 10 p.m. local time and declared the victim, who was reportedly “found with injuries consistent with a fall,” deceased at the scene, BBC reported.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show last night,” the band said Sunday in a statement reported by the outlet. “Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.”
The largest arena in Britain, Wembley Stadium seats 90,000 people and is divided into three levels.
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Liam Gallagher performs at the Reading Music Festival, England on Aug. 29, 2021, left, and Noel Gallagher performs at the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, on June 25, 2022. (AP Photo) -
Oct. 3, 2018 file photo, a view of the exterior of Wembley Stadium in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) -
FILE – Members of British rock band Oasis pose for photos ahead of a concert in Hong Kong, Feb. 25, 2006. From left are, Gem Archer, Noel Gallagher, Andy Bell, and Liam Gallagher. (AP Photo/Lo Sai Hung) -
Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis are pictured at the Q Magazine music awards in London in 1996. (Photo by Fiona Hanson, PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
The New York Times reported that some at the concert said the floors were “like an ice rink” from spilled drinks, with others calling the floors in the middle and upper sections “treacherous.” There was also online conjecture that since the man’s death coincided with the end of the sold-out concert, he might’ve gotten caught up in the rush to exit the area.
Investigators sought information from the public, believing a number of concertgoers likely witnessed the incident or may have accidentally captured the fatal fall while filming with their cellphones.
From Manchester, England, Oasis formed in 1991 amid the 90s Britpop movement, along with other bands like Blur and Pulp, putting out rock music with influence from the ‘60s. The band, formed by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, released seven albums between 1994 and 2007.
Noel, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter famously quit the band in 2009 because he could no longer stand to work with Liam, Oasis’ lead singer.
The tour, which is their first in 16 years, started July 4 in Cardiff, Wales, with Saturday being the fourth of seven scheduled shows at Wembley.
The band’s management on Sunday said the shows would go on as planned.