Pastor dies after wooden arch collapses at Christian festival

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 13:32 · Archive

Robert Guanco, 41, died after a large wooden arch fell on festivalgoers at the Big Church Festival near Steyning on 28 August.

Robert Guanco, 41, from Eastbourne, was attending the Big Church Festival near Steyning, West Sussex, when a large wooden arch fell over a temporary road, landing on him and several other members of the public on 28 August. Six people were injured in total, with four taken to hospital.

Mr Guanco worked as a healthcare assistant and was married. He was a pastor at the Jesus Living Water Church in Eastbourne, where he was described as 'a faithful servant of God, a loving husband to Isay, and a devoted and caring father to Ellie'.

An inquest opening in Brighton heard that a post-mortem examination gave the provisional cause of death as 'multiple severe injuries and blunt force trauma'. Area coroner Joseph Turner opened the inquest and confirmed that a pre-inquest review will take place in Horsham on 9 March 2027. A GoFundMe page set up to support his family has raised more than £243,000 towards a £250,000 target.

How it is being reported

• Eastbourne man died after wooden arch fell over road at Christian festival, inquest toldA man died after a large wooden arch fell over a temporary road and landed on several members of the public at a Christian festival, an inquest heard.Chichester Observer · 15 Oct, 13:02
• Pastor died after wooden arch collapsed on Christian festivalgoers, inquest hearsA man died after a large wooden arch fell over and landed on several members of the public at a Christian festival, an inquest heard.The Argus · 14 Oct, 11:46

In this story: Robert Guanco · Big Church Festival · Steyning · West Sussex · Eastbourne · Jesus Living Water Church

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