Man dead after running into fire at Burning Man
41-year-old broke through security cordon around flaming effigy at desert festival
A 41-year-old man has died after deliberately running into a massive fire at the annual Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. '
Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen told media Aaron Joel Mitchell broke through a human chain security cordon and ran directly into the blaze at around 10.30pm local time, as other festival attendees watched on.
"We don't know if it was intentional on his part or if it was just kind of induced by drugs. We're not sure of that yet," Allen said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'"Doctors confirmed Mitchell wasn't under the influence of alcohol but that a toxicology report is pending as part of the investigation," Fox9 News says.
Mitchell was eventually pulled out by firefighters, who were forced to abandon early efforts to reach him as parts of the burning effigy began to fall around them.
The man was airlifted from the scene to the UC Davis hospital burn centre in California, where he later died from his injuries.
Around 70,000 people are attending music and arts festival, "which culminates with the burning of a towering 40ft-effigy made of wood. Attendees have tried to run into the flames as a symbol of rebirth," The Guardian says.
"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," organisers said in a statement, adding: "We are working to make resources available to those affected."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published