Fatboy Slim News

(7/16/02, 4 p.m. ET) -- Fatboy Slim's second annual Big Beach Boutique in Brighton, England on Saturday (July 13) drew a quarter of a million people, overwhelming event organizers and erupting into chaos with at least one confirmed death.

A 25-year-old Australian woman, who was living in London, died in the hospital Monday (July 15) after a fall from railings onto the lower esplanade of the beach early Sunday (July 14) morning. A 40-year-old man had also died of a heart attack, although according to several U.K. news services, the death has not yet been connected with the event.

"We probably won't do it again. I don't take safety issues lightly," Fatboy Slim told the Evening Argus newspaper. "I will only do it again if we can guarantee people's safety and if that many people are going to come, then we can't."

Last year, 40,000 people attended the English DJ's oceanside beach party and 60,000 revelers were expected this year, but more than four times that many turned out for the event. Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, paid £100,000 ($157,000) out of his own pocket to help stage the concert. His current album is Live At Brighton Beach.

By noon the day of the event, traffic was backed up on the major British highway back to London, and by 3 p.m., police foresaw a major incident, calling in extra officers to manage the scene. The BBC reported that Brighton's public transport system and emergency services were overtaxed.

In the crush of too many bodies on the beach terrain in front of a stage placed between two piers, more than 30 injured had to be rescued by lifeboat, because ground-based emergency services like ambulances couldn't travel through the throng. Royal Sussex County Hospital reported treating some 90 people. Thousands were left stranded as departing trains were filled to capacity. Though four extra trains and a bus fleet were deployed, an estimated 25,000 people slept on the beach overnight. Hotels and pubs were fully booked.

Police chiefs have said they will not tolerate any repeat of the event and local council leaders and members of the emergency services met on Monday (July 15) in an effort to prevent any future disastrous festivals.

Fatboy Slim sent out a special thanks to all those working in emergency services and involved in the clean-up operation, which he partially paid for. Crews were left dealing with 100 tons of trash, broken glass, and other waste left on the beach.

-- Darryl Morden, Los Angeles

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