'Devoted' father and pastor was killed when sign fell on him in high winds at Christian music festival

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By KATHERINE LAWTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 04:46 EDT, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 04:55 EDT, 30 August 2026

A 'devoted' father and pastor was killed when a sign fell on him during high winds at a Christian music festival. 

Robert Guanco, 41, died when the huge wooden archway gave way at the Big Church Festival, held on the Wiston Estate near Steyning in West Sussex, on Friday. 

Another six people were injured with four rushed to hospital for treatment. 

Mr Guanco, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was Pastor at Jesus the Living Water Church in his local area. 

The church said in a statement: 'Pastor Robert was a faithful servant of God, a loving husband to Isay, a devoted and caring father to Ellie, and a blessing to so many people whose lives he touched.

'His life, his faith, his love, and his service to God will never be forgotten.'

Police are now examining whether or not the structure was properly secured before it collapsed. 

Fred Abbott, from Morden, south London, was sat just yards away with his young family when a 'strong gust of wind' toppled the sign. The father of four then rushed over to help save those crushed underneath.

Robert Guanco, 41, died when a huge wooden archway gave way at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex on Friday 

A sign that read 'Everything's Unmissable' fell at the Big Church Festival on Friday

Fred Abbott, from Morden, south London, was sat metres away with his young family when a 'strong gust of wind' is believed to have toppled the sign

An aerial view of campers at the festival, which was due to be attended by around 40,000 people 

'We were by Tom's Stage in the Field of Fun, about 20 metres away from where this massive wooden sign was,' Mr Abbott said. 

'We heard this massive crack and bang, and me and my friend ran over. There were around 30 to 50 people, including me and my friend, picking up this sign. It read: "Everything's Unmissable".'

Still 'shaken' from the incident, the project manager added: 'There were five people on the floor and not moving.

'I had to walk away because there was a man on the floor and he was bleeding from his head and from his mouth.'

The Met Office had urged festivalgoers across the country to prepare for windy conditions over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Its weather map showed wind speeds of up to 27mph in Shoreham, West Sussex, on Friday afternoon.

In a statement on Friday evening, Big Church Festival said it was 'devastated' at the death of one of its attendees in a 'serious incident'.

Emergency services were called to Big Church Festival at around 3.38pm on Friday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh, of Sussex Police, previously said: 'This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to the man’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

'I recognise the immense distress this will have caused people at the festival, and we are working with a number of partners as we seek to establish exactly what happened.