Third Burning Man festivalgoer dies during final days of annual Nevada desert gathering
Third Burning Man Participant Dies While Being Transported to Reno Hospital
Reno, Nev. – Following the conclusion of the 2024 Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, authorities confirmed the death of a third participant while he was being transported to a hospital near Reno. The fatality marks the latest in a series of three deaths that have occurred during the event’s week‑long celebration.
The information came from Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen, who said his office had received notification that a festival attendee died en route to a medical facility outside his jurisdiction. Allen was unable to provide further details and directed inquiries to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, which are responsible for the hospital in the Reno area.
“We typically see about one death per year at Burning Man,” Allen said in a brief email. “This case occurred outside our jurisdiction, so we’re working with Washoe County officials on the investigation.”
The third death follows the earlier fatalities that occurred during the event. On Thursday, the festival’s temporary field hospital, known as Rampart, confirmed the death of Sampson Tshombe, a man in his mid‑fifties who had been found on a street at the festival and had received CPR before a doctor pronounced him dead. No evidence of foul play was found, and Tshombe’s case was sent to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy and toxicology analysis.
Two days later, deputies located the body of 60‑year‑old Craigh Mann in a trailer he shared with his partner. Mann was pronounced dead at the scene, and, as with Tshombe, investigators found no outward signs of foul play. His case was likewise forwarded for an autopsy and toxicology screening.
All three autopsy and toxicology reports are expected to be completed within six to eight weeks. The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office and Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office have stated that no further information will be released until the results are finalized.
Burning Man, which ran from August 30 to the following Monday, draws up to 80,000 “burners” each year to the remote Black Rock Desert. The festival is famed for its large wooden effigy that is set alight each year, as well as its community‑built temporary city, Black Rock City. Organizers have emphasized the importance of safety and the availability of support resources for participants, noting that the event’s well‑being remains a top priority.
The festival’s organizers released a statement expressing “thoughts and deepest condolences” to Mann’s family, friends, and campmates, and to those affected by the other deaths. They reiterated that the festival remains committed to providing round‑the‑clock support for attendees.
The deaths have prompted renewed attention to health and safety measures at the event, and authorities are continuing their investigations while awaiting the forthcoming medical reports.
