As Successful AfrikaBurn Ends, Tragic Accident Claims a Life

As the increasingly popular festival in the desert AfrikaBurn drew to a close for its tenth annual rave, the organisers said that a 52-year-old woman had died after an accident at the event.

“It is with a heavy heart that we report that on Saturday (30th) April 52 year old Dana Lawless passed away after being airlifted off site from the AfrikaBurn event,” the organisers said in a statement. According to a news report on Tuesday, Lawless was a tarot reader from Plettenberg Bay.

The festival, which began on 25 April, ended on 1 May.

“Dana was travelling on her Theme Camp’s art car when she lost her footing and fell under the trailer that it was dragging. Medics were on the scene within minutes and she was stabilized and airlifted off site. Unfortunately she succumbed to her injuries and passed away on admittance at Tygerberg hospital.

“AfrikaBurn would like to offer our sincerest condolences to her family, camp mates and loved ones.”

Theme Camps are described by AfrikaBurn as being designed and created with the intention of welcoming, engaging and entertaining other participants.

“Think of them as little villages within the larger village of Tankwa Town (which is near Calvinia in the Karoo). You’re collectively creating a space open to all who want to participate, and generating a fabulous project to share with the community.”

More than 10,000 people were expected at this year’s event, which was sold out. According to the organisers, “AfrikaBurn is the spectacular result of the creative expression of a community of volunteers who, once a year, gather in the Tankwa Karoo to create a temporary city of art, theme camps, costume, music and performance! For those that have been no explanation is necessary, for those that haven’t none is possible.”