DENVER (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — A man who fell 60 feet off a ledge during a Ben Harper concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and died from his injuries on August 23rd has sparked an investigation by Denver police.
Detective John White told the Denver Post that initial appearances indicate that it was an accidental death, but homicide investigators have been assigned to the case.
A witness told police that the unidentified mid-20s man appeared intoxicated, and fell over backwards while hoisting himself up on a railing during a setbreak.
“He was by himself, nobody was following him, and durinig the whole ordeal there was no one searching for him and no one recognized him,” Kathrine Warren told the paper.
Red Rocks spokeswoman Anne Williams told the paper that security and rescue personnel assigned to the concert found the man in some bushes and administered CPR. He was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he later died.
“I’ve researched the last 12 years, and I cannot find any other incident similar to this,” Williams said. “There have been minor things that happen, but as far as major incidents go, this is pretty isolated and very out of the ordinary. It’s still shocking to us.”
There were 10 police officers, five paramedics, two firefighters and 75 event staff members assigned to work the concert, Williams added.
Harper released a statement on his official website the following day regarding the incident: “This afternoon we learned of the tragic loss of life at last night's show at Red Rocks. Ben Harper, his band, and staff are deeply saddened and at a loss for words. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends who lost a loved one last night.” –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
