Authorities have confirmed that a third individual attending the Burning Man festival has passed away, following the recent announcement of two other fatalities during the annual event in the Nevada desert. The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office disclosed that Armando Ramirez from Truckee, Calif., died while en route to a hospital in Reno, Nev., approximately 190 kilometers south of the festival. The 51-year-old was declared dead in the ambulance in the early hours of Friday. The examiner’s office stated that the cause and manner of death are pending further testing and assured that foul play is not suspected.
The festival, known for its art installations and emphasis on self-expression, reported two additional deaths last week. Craigh Mann, aged 60, was discovered deceased on Saturday around 3 p.m. local time. The festival indicated that he was found in a trailer he shared with his partner. Another attendee, a man in his mid-50s named Sampson Tshombe, suffered a medical emergency and passed away after receiving emergency treatment at the festival’s temporary hospital on Thursday, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
While no foul play is suspected in the deaths of Mann and Tshombe, autopsies and toxicology screenings are scheduled to provide further insights within six to eight weeks. This year marks the festival’s 40th anniversary, commencing on August 30 and concluding on Monday. Each year, thousands of individuals gather in the desert to camp and engage in innovative performances, culminating in the burning of a large wooden sculpture resembling a man.
The event has unfortunately seen previous fatalities, with over seven reported deaths since its relocation from Baker Beach in San Francisco to the Black Rock desert in 1990. Pershing County sheriff and coroner Jerry Allen mentioned that on average, one death occurs annually at the festival, according to NBC News.
