Teenager seriously injured at Sonisphere

A 15-year-old rock fan was seriously injured this past Saturday (August 1) at the Sonisphere festival at Knebworth House.

The teenager was thrown out of a fairground spinning wheel ride at the rock festival. It is believed his safety straps came lose resulting in him being catapulted into the air and came crashing down on a nearby block of portable toilets.

Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson, told local paper The Welwyn & Hatfield Times:

"The young man sustained potentially life-threatening injuries and our paramedics at the venue worked rapidly to treat and stabilize him. Following this, he was rushed to an awaiting trauma team at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage."

Kerrang! thoughts and prayers are with the unnamed teen’s family and friends at this sad time.

Posted by Dan at 09:07AM | August 3, 2009

Poor guy! Not only did he miss out on what was probably a brilliant weekend, he could probably miss out on a lot more than a weekend. Pull through it, man. Thoughts are with you.

Posted by Damon | August 3, 2009 9:26 AM | Reply to this

jesus....

thoughts are with you man!

Posted by Matt | August 3, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply to this

thoughts are with you dude.
hope everything turns out okay.
aleast ya might of got to see bullet :)

Posted by adi | August 3, 2009 11:23 AM | Reply to this

Harsh. I mean being thrown off a ride is one thing... but landing on the toilets? :P

Posted by Matt | August 3, 2009 11:44 AM | Reply to this

thoughts are with you and your family man

Posted by sean | August 3, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply to this

dude my thoughts are with u get well soon

Posted by craggie | August 3, 2009 12:19 PM | Reply to this

fuuck man thts bad , we saw the after effects of tht incident bt no1 really knew wat was happenin with the kid :(

Posted by hannah | August 3, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply to this

Oooooh, ouch...
That can't have been good!
Poor guy, hope he recovers!

Deary me Sonisphere's not had the best of luck during it's first year has it? :S

Posted by Joel | August 3, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply to this

this is what happens to people who betray download unfortunatly :(

Posted by mr biggles | August 3, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply to this

Ughh that was horrible, i saw it all happening, it was horrible, it diden't seem real, god i hope he's ok.

Posted by Max | August 3, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply to this

shit a brick

Posted by frances | August 3, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply to this

shit a brick

Posted by frances | August 3, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply to this

Lol I wonder if anyone was actually in the loos as he landed on them?
Obviously I pity he who landed on them more, but spare a thought for those that could've been using them at the time and might have been knocked over inside them... Dx

Posted by Joel | August 3, 2009 1:26 PM | Reply to this

Shitting hell what a poor guy

Posted by Alex240993 | August 3, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply to this

Thats really unfortunate, i thought it was 16 and over?

Posted by Mirea | August 3, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply to this

I did say OBVIOUSLY I pity the chap who landed on them more.
Do read comments properly :p
The other comment was worse than mine!

ANYWAY, the point is here's wishing him a speedy recovery (Y)
Hope he didn't miss too many of his fave bands :/

Posted by Joel | August 3, 2009 3:00 PM | Reply to this

Fuck sonisphere.......DOWNLOAD ALL THE WAY

Posted by CH | August 3, 2009 3:07 PM | Reply to this

poor wee man =[ hope you better soon kidd =[ my thoughts are with you xx

Posted by sax | August 3, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply to this

=/ That Really Isn't Good, Hope He Gets Well Soon x

Posted by Jess B | August 3, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply to this

i knew the dude that got injured his name is reece and hes in a bad condintion so all y'all bad mouthin and jokin about him dont bother puttin a comment on here, its not funny

Posted by h | August 3, 2009 4:31 PM | Reply to this

oh my god :O

Posted by , | August 3, 2009 5:16 PM | Reply to this

Get Well Soon

Best Wishes and Our Thoughts are with you x x

Posted by Jill | August 3, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply to this

YOU'VE ALL BEEN PUNK'D

Posted by Tibby Tobby Frodo Lobby | August 3, 2009 6:29 PM | Reply to this

O:
I hope you get well soon!
I might see you next year ;D
although, I don't think I'll go on thee ferris wheel Dx

Posted by Jazzz(: | August 3, 2009 7:04 PM | Reply to this

O:
I hope you get well soon!
I might see you next year ;D
although, I don't think I'll go on thee ferris wheel Dx
anywho, get well soon buddy
x x

Posted by Jazzz(: | August 3, 2009 7:05 PM | Reply to this

I was hoping to go to that, bet it was awesome, god is with you man, or, whatever jesus people say :/

Posted by rachel | August 3, 2009 8:45 PM | Reply to this

To put it bluntly, the accident was horrific, myself and a mate where actually by the area / arcade type thing, when this happened. The emergency services worked heroically to help the guy. Fair play to them...

Lets hope the guy is ok.

Posted by Paul Harrison | August 3, 2009 9:46 PM | Reply to this

Lets hope the guy is ok.

Posted by Paul Harrison | August 3, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply to this

Lets hope the guy is ok.

Posted by Paul Harrison | August 3, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply to this

Wow, poor guy. I hope he has a speedy recovery.

Posted by JoNnY | August 3, 2009 10:06 PM | Reply to this

omg, thoughts are with you dude
hope you pull through

Posted by mike | August 3, 2009 11:11 PM | Reply to this

i knew i was right not to trust those pikey mofos!

hope the guy recovers...

Posted by paul | August 3, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply to this

thoughts and prayers are with u man

Posted by Elen Lisa Young | August 3, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply to this

I knew that ride looked unsafe!

Get well soon! =D

Posted by hparkerh | August 4, 2009 7:13 AM | Reply to this

shit i was on that ride with my son all the best man be strong and get well thoughts also go to your parents

Posted by steve and rat | August 4, 2009 9:05 AM | Reply to this

Must've hurt like hell =/

Also adding myself to the long list of people hoping things improve for you, it's not right for a rock fan to have such a horrific accident at a festival in which they payed good money to go to.

Hopefully they let you go free next time as a sorry =]

Posted by HollowNightmares | August 4, 2009 11:18 AM | Reply to this

OH MY GOD!!!! that must have hurt like hell!
It's good to hear their ok but that could have been so serious.

all of us are thinking of them and the family

Posted by Heather | August 4, 2009 11:31 AM | Reply to this

Get well soon, dude.
My heart goes out to you and your family.

And will people stop staying "thats what happens when you betray Download" I mean, yeah, I think the Download fest is awesome too, but for christs sake thats all you can think of to say?! The kid almost died and you honestly think its acceptable to slag him off for it!? That is thoroughly disgusting

Posted by Melissa | August 4, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply to this

To think I went on a ride like that at Download.
It was fun as hell though.

Posted by Kit | August 4, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply to this

YES!
I went on the ride there.

Posted by Kit | August 4, 2009 12:28 PM | Reply to this

oh my goodness
the poor guy
my thoughts are with you and your family

get well soon
xxxxxx

Posted by Charlotte | August 4, 2009 12:49 PM | Reply to this

Your one to talk, the guy was 15 and you are offering to buy him a beer. Tut tut

Posted by Dave | August 4, 2009 1:47 PM | Reply to this

thoughts are with you dude hope all is well!
for the rest with the oh so witty comments tut tut shame!

Posted by Mo | August 4, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply to this

aw jeez thats awful!

thoughts and prayers are with you man hope you pull through!
get well soon
xxx

Posted by vicky | August 4, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply to this

Poor kid

Hope the dude is ok. best of luck

Posted by Hamish | August 4, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply to this

This is horrible, I also wish him a speedy recovery :(

Posted by pro1000 | August 4, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply to this

This is horrible, I also wish him a speedy recovery :(

Posted by pro1000 | August 4, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply to this

This is horrible, I also wish him a speedy recovery :(

Posted by pro1000 | August 4, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply to this

Yo dude hope u recover soon x

Posted by Wishing u well | August 4, 2009 7:03 PM | Reply to this

..... has kerrang condoned, and by publishing it, encouraged (organised) religion ; "thoughts & prayers".

Very sad story but am I really the only person to find that not quite cricket ?

Posted by wanderinghand | August 4, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply to this

ooh! thoughts are with you dude. hope you recover soon, you are a brave guy and i wish you, and your family well.
praying for a speedy recovery for you.
XXX. get well dude .XXX

Posted by sorry dude | August 4, 2009 7:30 PM | Reply to this

jeez, thats terrible!
hope you pull through soon!
thinking of you and your family.
what a terrible thing to happen, hes so young!

get better soon!
xxx

Posted by sophie(= | August 4, 2009 10:24 PM | Reply to this

jeez, thats terrible!
hope you pull through soon!
thinking of you and your family.
what a terrible thing to happen, hes so young!

get better soon!
xxx

Posted by sophie(= | August 4, 2009 10:24 PM | Reply to this

When I saw the the title of the article I was thinking that he got trampled in a moshpit or something happened whilst he was actually in the crowd listening to the music, but then it said he was thrown of the ride I thought Crap! that's gotta be bad, Hope he get's better!

Posted by R | August 5, 2009 12:09 AM | Reply to this

i went on that ride the night before,they came round with a screw driver to tighten the pull down bar and i thought that was dodgy. seems it bloody well was! i hope the lad is doing ok, it makes me sick to think about it. get better soon lil man xxxx

Posted by claire | August 5, 2009 12:12 AM | Reply to this

Yes i think you may be the only person thinking that.

having someone in your "thoughts and prayers" has nothing to do with 'organised religion'. It's an expression and simply lets someone know they are being thought of and wished well.

But feel free to sell your soul to satan as a gesture of speedy recovery if you feel that would be more appropriate.

Personally I really hope this kid gets better soon, he is in my thoughts and prayers (to which ever god I see fit to pray to) - it's such an awful thing to happen and must have completely ruined his and his friends/family weekend - I hope they are all compensated accordingly and this terrible experience doesn't stop them from attending festivals in the future...just avoid the scary rides!

Posted by Bec | August 5, 2009 11:43 AM | Reply to this

oh well, its not like it happened at download, i also see metalhammer dont report crap like this aswell! tbh if it was that bad it would be on bbc news.

one piece of advice- go to download next year!

Posted by dan | August 5, 2009 1:16 PM | Reply to this

I hope you get better soon dude! My thoughts and prayers are with you!
That is some gnarly fall man!!!!!!!!!!! Good Lord!
x

Posted by Zoe N | August 5, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply to this

to be honest it was bad. i kno him and hes well depressed over it hes also in bad condition and it was on the news obviously havent been watchin

Posted by h | August 5, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply to this

to be honest it was bad. i kno him and hes well depressed over it hes also in bad condition and it was on the news obviously havent been watchin

Posted by h | August 5, 2009 3:43 PM | Reply to this

Serious SHit ... :O i just got off this ride an hour before when that happened.

Posted by JM | August 5, 2009 6:48 PM | Reply to this

I wanted to go to Soni but I'm glad I didn't now, cos I'd have done something like that and it could've been me. I had lots of friends go and to think it couldve been them makes me feel sick.

Get well soon dude. You should sue sonisphere's hairy metal ass (Y)

Posted by Gabrielle | August 5, 2009 9:12 PM | Reply to this

I wanted to go to Soni but I'm glad I didn't now, cos I'd have done something like that and it could've been me. I had lots of friends go and to think it couldve been them makes me feel sick.

Get well soon dude. You should sue sonisphere's hairy metal ass (Y)

Posted by Gabrielle | August 5, 2009 9:12 PM | Reply to this

I wanted to go to Soni but I'm glad I didn't now, cos I'd have done something like that and it could've been me. I had lots of friends go and to think it couldve been them makes me feel sick.

Get well soon dude. You should sue sonisphere's hairy metal ass (Y)

Posted by Gabrielle | August 5, 2009 9:12 PM | Reply to this

dont be a dick..

Posted by amy | August 6, 2009 1:16 AM | Reply to this

Dude
Thoughts go out to and your family and friends.
Pull through dude

Posted by Joe | August 6, 2009 9:30 AM | Reply to this

Reece had emergency surgey to repair a tear in his Aorta, which is one of the main veins from the heart. the op went well however on sunday his oxygen level dropped due to broken shoulder blade being found causing pressure to his chest. he was put into an induced coma so they could put him on a ventilator to breathe for him as it was causing him too much pain. he had also had his ankle pinned back together. that night they moved him to another hospital in london to a specialist intensive care unit where they could look after him better. they are going to bring him out of the coma this afternoon to see how he copes- fingers crossed he wont need to go back under.
The family would like to thank all the well wishers that have helped to keep high spirits at this sad time.
what a shame for him as it was his first festival and birthday treat and was so looking forward to seeing Metallica.
Rosy,Reeces Aunt. x

Posted by Rosy | August 6, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply to this

Posted by Rosy | August 6, 2009 1:01 PM | Reply to this

ok then, if it was on the news then post me a link to it on either bbc news or msn.co.uk....

metalhammer >kerrang

Posted by dan | August 6, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply to this

Glad to hear about him. Get well soon mate.

Posted by ross | August 6, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply to this

get well soon lil buddy ,great festival and so gutted for you that happend on ur birthday treat or at all for that matter!!,god speed ur recover lil man.sonis for life lp rock.

Posted by steve neild | August 6, 2009 7:51 PM | Reply to this

Hope he pulls through this. Its such a sad thing to happen, but sadly it could of happened to anyone at any festival xx

Posted by denise | August 6, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply to this

Hope he pulls through this. Its such a sad thing to happen, but sadly it could of happened to anyone at any festival xx

Posted by denise | August 6, 2009 8:45 PM | Reply to this

Hope he pulls through this. Its such a sad thing to happen, but sadly it could of happened to anyone at any festival xx

Posted by denise | August 6, 2009 8:45 PM | Reply to this

p.s you cant blame the festival organisers for this, all the relevent checks would of been done to ensure the traveling fairground was safe... The same fairground was at Bloodstock last year, so they obviously did have a good reputation. This is just a sad freak accident :(
Oh, maybe someone should contact Metallica somehow? and let them no, maybe try get him free tickets? or yo meet them? xx

Posted by denise | August 6, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply to this

Jeez , what a shame :( Proper hoping he gets better soon though , that kid has littrally thousands of people hoping he pulls through

Posted by Caitie | August 7, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply to this

Jeez , what a shame :( Proper hoping he gets better soon though , that kid has littrally thousands of people hoping he pulls through

Posted by Caitie | August 7, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply to this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8180980.stm

Posted by beky | August 9, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply to this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8180980.stm

Posted by beky | August 9, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply to this

i hate them rides i was sick and it came back in my face lol Hope u get well soon xoxo

Posted by Clo Von T | August 12, 2009 6:09 PM | Reply to this

i hate them rides i was sick and it came back in my face lol Hope u get well soon xoxo

Posted by Clo Von T | August 12, 2009 6:09 PM | Reply to this

get well soon man, thoughts are with you dude, i feel really bad for you lad, best wishes homeslice, hope to see you there next year fella!

Posted by martin | August 16, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply to this

get well soon man, thoughts are with you dude, i feel really bad for you lad, best wishes homeslice, hope to see you there next year fella!

Posted by martin | August 16, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply to this

hi, i am reeces mum (the boy who got hurt) i am hoping you could get in contact with me as i am interested in knowing more about your experience on the ride as i am obviously going to sue someone! please get in contact if you dont mind x

Posted by kizzy | August 28, 2009 12:54 PM | Reply to this