Music festivals suspended at park after 'amazing mum', 32, suddenly dies
09.04.2024 - 13:17
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A dance music festival has been suspended in a town after the death last year of a much-loved mum.
Stephanie Thorpe, 32, from Farnworth in Bolton, died in hospital after she collapsed at the Restricted Forest Festival at Witton Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, last June. The Restricted Rocks festival, which usually takes place in April, and Restricted Forest, held in June, have been staged at the park for seven years.
Now's it's been confirmed that both events, organised by Restricted Events, have been 'temporarily suspended'. Restricted Forest is now set to take place at Orrell Hill Woods in Liverpool, on Saturday, June 22.
The boss of Restricted Events said as a mark of respect, events in Blackburn have been temporarily suspended until the outcome of an inquest into Stephanie's death, which opened in December.
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Stephanie, who worked with children with complex needs, leaves her partner, Carl, and their baby boy, Alfie. Friends paid tribute to an 'amazing, funny, irreplaceable' mum after her tragic death.
She was pronounced dead at the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Sunday, June 25, following the festival held the day before. Lancashire Police attended the hospital at 3.30pm after receiving reports of a sudden death. The force confirmed Stephanie's death was not being treated as suspicious.
The council and Restricted Events CEO Zander Lawrenson said they have decided not to proceed with further events until the coroner’s inquest into the death has taken place, reports the Lancashire Telegraph.
Mr Lawrenson apologised to “thousands of people” who would have attended this year’s events but says events have been