Four people have been rushed to hospital after more than 1,000 revelers gathered for an illegal rave in an industrial area where witnesses described seeing semi-conscious bodies lying in the road.
Police said they were called to report a loud event in Bridgend, South Wales, on Saturday night and ordered the crowd to disperse.
At lunchtime today, there were still hundreds of revelers at the site.
Officers said more than 70 cars were also present at the ‘unlicensed music event’ at Kenfig Industrial Estate.
South Wales Police said in a statement: “At 11:40 p.m. on Saturday April 8, South Wales Police were called to a report of an unlicensed music event, which occurred at Kenfig Industrial Estate. “
Four people have been rushed to hospital after more than 1,000 revelers gathered for an illegal rave last night
Pictured are revelers at the Kenfig industrial estate rave in Margam, South Wales
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Travis said: ‘Initial reports indicated more than 1,000 people and 70 vehicles were present. Several officers were deployed. We urge people to leave the site safely and stay away from the event.
“The Welsh Ambulance Service responded to calls from the scene. Currently, three people have been taken to hospital, none of these people are seriously injured.
In a separate statement on Sunday afternoon, South Wales Police said: ‘Emergency services and local partners remain at the scene of an unlicensed music event at Kenfig Industrial Estate.
“Another person was taken to hospital with non-serious injuries. A small number of vehicles and people remain.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Travis said: ‘We are engaging with those at the scene to ensure they leave the site safely while respecting local residents. The event is dissipating now and participants have been gone throughout the afternoon.
“We have worked with partner agencies to ensure that those who need help have been supported. It is disappointing that on one of the busiest days of the year, so many resources have been diverted from supporting local communities to managing an illegal event.
“I would like to thank the local community for their patience and support.”
Party boy Nigel traveled from Hampshire with his three friends in a van.
South Wales Police said more than 1,000 people attended, including hundreds again this afternoon
Police arrived at the scene around 11:40 p.m. and closed the road leading to the industrial area
He said they arrived early in the morning and they don’t worry about when they have to go home and they attend these kinds of events most weekends.
This weekend, according to Nigel, was a big event in the rave scene because it’s EggTech or EggTek, which is a celebration of techno music at Easter.
The annual event is part of Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and the “free rave movement”, which originated in the United States in the 1990s.
Free raves are meant to provide revelers with an opportunity to “get away from it all” and dance freely in a safe space among like-minded people.
Nigel said: “It’s a classy event and it’s a good place for it. Last year we had it in Dorset. 100% worth the trip.’
Local resident Chris Davies said: ‘I started work at 6am this morning and thought it was a gig or something. You could hear it at the bottom of the hill. They don’t cause too many problems.
“There were people walking this morning and I stopped a guy and said, ‘What’s going on? Is it a concert? He just said ‘Uuuhhh’. I didn’t get much out of him.
Another participant, Chris, traveled four hours to get here today and said ‘it was so worth it’.
Explaining how they find these raves, he said, “Basically they come out about a week before. Everyone sends their number on the social media group and then everyone gets a group text saying, “Call this number that day”.
“Then on the phone line, it gives you a general area to go to. Last night he said ‘head to Bristol area’. So everyone in the country was heading to Bristol last night.
“Then it changed to Cardiff as we were driving all night. It’s the best thing. It’s an adventure. Eventually you find out where you are going. I’ve been going to them for years and you get to know so many people. It is written on all the texts: “Respect the land and respect the police”.
“It’s just kinda fun to get loads of people together and have a party. I’ve always found that as long as you’re nice to the police, they’re decent.”
Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the Welsh Ambulance Service urged people not to ‘waste vital resources’.
The service said: ‘The Welsh Ambulance Service urges the public to protect their resources over the four-day bank holiday weekend.
“The Trust reminds people to collect all medication, including prescriptions, and to stock up on first aid supplies to treat minor injuries and illnesses at home.
“The four-day weekend comes with an improved weather picture, and we ask the public to drink responsibly and treat our rescuers with respect.”
Sonia Thompson, Assistant Director of Operations (Emergency Medical Service), said: ‘We always see an increase in demand for our services over a long weekend, and this weekend should be no different. .
“Improving weather usually means more people are out socializing or traveling to visit family and friends, so it’s important they pick up their prescriptions, keep a first aid kit stocked in their homes and cars and know what services to use if they become ill or injured.