Burning Man Reports Death of Female Concertgoer

One woman died on the first day of the 2024 Burning Man Festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert on Aug. 25, the festival confirmed .

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The week-long event kicked off on the morning of Aug. 25, and the woman was found unresponsive at 11:29 a.m. that same day. She was tended to by Burning Man emergency services, who allegedly attempted to save her life but were ultimately unable to revive her.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the festival wrote, “It is with heavy hearts that Burning Man Project confirms the death of a participant in Black Rock City in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this loss. The participant has been identified by the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office.” (Black Rock City is a temporary base for Burning Man festival participants.)

At the time of this article’s publication, no cause of death has been revealed as the death remains under investigation. The participant’s name and age were also not released.

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“The safety and well-being of our staff and community are paramount,” the festival continued. “We are cooperating fully with local authorities as they investigate this incident. The Pershing County Sheriff’s office investigates all deaths that occur in its jurisdiction.”

In 2023, Burning Man reported the death of a 32-year-old festival-goer, Leon Reece, who died after he was found unresponsive on the festival grounds, authorities confirmed.

This year’s festival will run through Sept. 2.

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