Burning Man festival attendee dies in fire

A 41-year old Burning Man attendee has passed away.

Aaron Joel Mitchell, a US citizen and Burning Man Festival attendee reportedly evaded security and ran into an open fire on Saturday night. Unfortunately Mitchell passed away on Sunday morning shortly after being airlifted to University College Davis hospital burn center in California. After breaking through two sets of security staff and without much hesitation, Mitchell ran into “The Man Burn”, the ceremonial effigy, witnessed by 50 000 people as it annually burns to the ground in celebration.

According to County Sheriff Jerry Allen, Mitchell had not been under the influence of alcohol, although a toxicology report is currently pending. Located in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, Burning Man had reportedly cancelled a number of scheduled fires, but continued to go ahead with the “Temple Burn” ceremony on Sunday night.

Here is an official statement issued by the festival themselves:

“Aaron Joel Mitchell, 41, succumbed Sunday morning to injuries suffered after breaking through a safety perimeter Saturday night and running into a fire at the annual Burning Man event in northern Nevada. Mr Mitchell’s family has been advised of his death. Burning Man is working with local and federal law enforcement agencies, and an investigation is currently ongoing.”