Coachella Employee Dies While Setting Up Stage Festival
April 7 2019, Updated 9:31 p.m. ET
Longtime Coachella worker Christopher Griffin died on Saturday morning, April 6, 2019 while setting up the stage for the annual music festival in Indio, California.
The stage technician, 49, was reportedly climbing the stage scaffolding of the Empire Polo Club to set up some equipment, but his safety harness was not clipped, causing him to plunge 60 feet to his death.
Authorities arrived at 9:30 am but according to a website, he had already died at the scene.
Griffin had worked for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival since its inception in 1999.
Goldenvoice, the mastermind behind the festival, confirmed his friend's death.
"Today, Goldenvoice lost a colleague, a friend, a family member. Our friend fell while working on a festival stage" he said. "It is with heavy hearts and tremendous difficulty that we confirm his passing."
He continued in paying tribute to Griffin, "He has been with our team for 20 years in the desert and was doing what he loved. He was a hard-working and loving person that cared deeply about his team. As our lead rigger, he was responsible for the countless incredible shows that have been put on at the festival. We will miss him dearly."
Coachella has been famous for years for its celebrity appearances, hippy fashions, and hookups.
It takes a village of dedicated behind the scenes workers to set it up.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival begins this Friday, April 12 and will conclude on Sunday, April 21.
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