A 27 year-old man who died at the Glastonbury site just days before this year’s event has been revealed to be a circus performer who was found doused in petrol and ablaze.
As NME reports, an inquest into the death was launched last week. They heard that Ashton Launcherley was found “ablaze” and later died in hospital from inhalation injury and organ failure.
“On the afternoon of 20 June Mr Launcherley was discovered ablaze. He was doused in petrol and he was ablaze,” said coroner Tony Williams.
“Mr Launcherley was airlifted from the scene to Southmead hospital in Bristol and then to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham where he died the next day.”
At the time of the blaze, fire fighters found it too difficult to get to the man given the mud and floods that struck the festival this year.
The death was not considered to be suspicious and the inquest was adjourned for three months.
A crowdfunding page was set up by care-worker Katrina Cooper before she learnt that the man had passed away. The funds raised from the page will go towards covering the families’ funeral expenses.
Launcherley’s Aunt took to the page with a message with a message writing, “The sensitivity of the people on the festival field has been amazing.”
“Before the helicopter arrived, he was attended by first aiders who loved him and hugged him and talked to him. These were a nurse/permaculture gardener, a farmer, a reiki practitioner and a fireman. Everything was done with dignity.”
