Singer 'commits suicide' after concert

The lead singer of a British pop band has died during a music festival in Belgium, the Foreign Office confirmed today.

Charles Haddon, frontman of electro-pop trio Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, leapt to his death from a telecommunications mast behind the main stage at the Pukkelpop festival, police in Belgium said.

The 22-year-old fell to the car park below and was pronounced dead late last night.

The band, based in Camden, north London, had performed at the three-day festival in Hasselt, eastern Belgium, shortly before Haddon climbed up the mast.

Police are treating the death as suicide, district attorney Marc Rubens said.

Festival organisers said Haddon's family had been informed. In a statement posted on their website, they said: "After performing with his band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, singer Charles Haddon decided to take his own life.

"Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family and friends."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national on August 20 in Hasselt, Belgium. Consular assistance has been offered."

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool were due to perform at the Frequency Festival in Austria tonight and were to start a UK headline tour in Cambridge in October.

The band had supported La Roux on tour last year, which Haddon described in a blog as being a personal highlight. They also played at Glastonbury and Bestival festivals last year, and were due to make a second appearance at Bestival, on the Isle of Wight, on September 10.

Their third single, Jackson's Last Stand, was released in July.

On Thursday, Michael Been, the 60-year-old frontman of American band The Call, died of an apparent heart attack at the same festival while working as a soundman for his son's band, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

A statement posted on the band's blog on their MySpace website said: "We are all so deeply saddened to confirm that our friend Charlie Haddon passed away yesterday, Friday 20th August.

"The singer had just performed with his band, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium. He was 22 years old.

"The London three piece were in Europe playing a number of festivals before embarking on a tour of Australia as part of the Parklife festival next month.

"Charles Alexander Haddon R.I.P. Thanks for all your messages of support."