Download Festival mosh-pit warning over hundreds of ‘accidental’ ambulance calls
Download Festival revellers issued mosh pit warning
- Leicestershire Police are urging Download Festival attendees to put wearable tech in airplane mode to avoid accidental 999 calls triggered by mosh pit activity.
- The festival typically causes a surge in emergency calls, with an increase of nearly 700 calls over a normal weekend due to devices misinterpreting mosh pit movements as collisions.
- Each accidental call requires assessment and follow-up, diverting resources from genuine emergencies.
- Attendees are asked to answer callbacks from hidden numbers to confirm their safety and disable emergency alerts on their devices.
- Download Festival, expected to host about 75,000 fans, has seen past incidents, including two deaths in 2022.