We Are FSTVL issue apology after multiple attendees collapsed during long queues

28 May 2019, 13:39 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

London's We Are FSTVL has issued an apology after multiple attendees collapsed from queueing for hours to get into the festival.

The Upminster festival that saw performances from Bugzy Malone, Big Shaq, Craig David, Gorgon City, and more over the weekend has uploaded a public apology after attendees experienced poor organisation upon entering the festival on Saturday (25 May).

Although the Metropolitan Police said they were "not aware of any serious injury", multiple attendees collapsed and vomited while queueing for three hours in the heat.

The BBC reports an anonymous woman told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, "They weren't handing out water so everyone in the queue for three hours didn't have a drink."

She added, "A barrier got thrown into the crowds, the woman next to me got hit by it and it sliced a massive chunk out of her leg. She's passed out on the floor, security ran over to her and people were just charging through. They took out the barriers, pushed through security, punching security, just taking everyone out in their way."

Can honestly say I will not be attending @wearefstvl ever again. Shambles of an event, completely unorganised and not a single care about people’s welfare pic.twitter.com/Cn5ACMmtDQ
— mollie mae (@molliemaae) May 26, 2019

Oh @wearefstvl we absolutely love to see it my first and last mate lol #WEAREFSTVL pic.twitter.com/WSyjqIz39x
— Big Mike (@mikeyjwill98) May 25, 2019

Yesterday (27 May) the festival organisers uploaded a public apology, "We are SORRY. We always strive to deliver our customers a great event each year. This year wasn't the case for everyone on Saturday, and that pains us immensely. Whilst we managed to rectify the issue and finish on a high on Sunday, we accept queueing times on Saturday were unacceptable."

We Are SORRY x pic.twitter.com/ZG2gzTdYIw
— We Are FSTVL (@wearefstvl) May 27, 2019

In an official statement, the festival added, "Due to unforeseen technical difficulties at the wristband exchange, customers had experienced longer waiting times and for that we apologise. Security were able to overcome these issues and barriers were quickly reinstated."

The wristbands were to support the festival's "cashless" system, and allowed attendees to buy food or drink at the festival.

Read the full official statement from the festival over on NME.com.