A tent was seen soaring through the sky as Storm Lilian wreaked havoc at Leeds Festival – as attendees told how they were being “held hostage” in tents amid the chaos
A hilarious video has surfaced showing a tent soaring through the sky above a Leeds Festival campsite as Storm Lilian batters the area.
The storm has been raging across the country today, with hurricane-strength winds pulling trees to the ground, destroying market stalls and almost causing a lorry to topple over on a bridge in Hull. It comes after the Met Office issued a yellow weather alert warning that winds could reach ’80mph’.
Festival goers say the stormy weather has been “lethal” and has left “tents flying everywhere” as music-lovers tried to set up their capsites in Bramham Park ahead of the 2024 three-day music festival over the weekend. The festival earlier announced three stages had been “lost” due to the storm, while attendees took to social media to speak of their horror as camp sites and belongings were damaged by aggressive wind and rainfall.
Taking to Facebook, Mike Shannon, who set up in the area, wrote: “So storm Lilian has ripped through Leeds Festival. Tents and scaffolding flying around. Some people have lost everything.. was woken up by screaming at 6am. The sun is trying to come out but there’s been a lot of damage. Apparently the Radio 1 stage is currently somewhere over Cardiff. Having great fun though! Can’t make a brew as my stove won’t survive the gusts.”
Another user told how festivalgoers were being “held hostage” in their tents after securing one as early as 7am as the storm raged on. Gail Ambrose wrote: “Well this is different storm Lillian. Securing all our tent lines at 7am and now being held hostage in our tents at Leeds festival due to high winds and literally whispering incase security staff decide to turf us out into the holding area to stand like cattle in the wind and rain like all those poor souls who were pitched next to the metal holding.
She continued: “We will literally sit in the car if that is the case. Tent refuges all gathering around reception and in the hair straightening salon, tents have collapsed and people are sat on their bags not being able to check in. BBC Radio One stage and AUX stage are cancelled.” User Helen Green added: “My boy went to Leeds festival, only for his tent to be blown down, he packed up this morning and headed home.”
Announcing that a third stage had been cancelled amid the carnage, Leeds Festival said in a statement: “Thank you all for your patience today. Unfortunately in light of updated site reports and despite our best efforts, the Chevron stage will not be able to open as planned today in Leeds. It will open as scheduled for the rest of the weekend.”