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Fan Dies at Vans Warped Tour, Dehydration Suspected

Warped TourDaniel Boczarski, Redferns

A 26-year-old's death on Monday while attending the Vans Warped Tour in Bonner Springs, Kan. is in danger of spiraling into a debate about fair water prices at concert events. While details remain scarce, at some point during the day-long concert, fan Curtis Alan DeForest was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The official cause of death is still unknown, but dehydration is the rumored cause.

The fan death elicited an immediate response from Vans Warped Tour as well as from the venue, with both camps also instantly offering up explanations of their water policies. An official statement posted on Vans Warped Tour's website offers condolences to the "young man's family and friends." However, a series of real-time tweets on Monday from the tour's official Twitter account emphasized that the long-running tour makes every reasonable effort to ensure the safety of concert goers. "If this was due to dehydration," reads one tweet, "the tour is not responsible for water prices and we change venue rules to allow you to bring it in with you."

A statement on the venue's website seems to offer a similar disclaimer: "As is the standard practice at all shows that visit the Amphitheater, patrons were allowed to bring in their own bottles of water," it reads, in part. "In preparation for the heat, additional measures were taken by the venue, including the positioning of misting stations for fans, additional water refill stations as well as shade throughout the wooded venue."

As was noted by the website Punk News, one of the tour's vendors -- Bridge Nine Records -- tweeted from the event, claiming that the venue was charging $10 for bottled water, while temperatures were reportedly over 100 degrees.

While the price of fair water remains an issue at concert events -- and was cited as a partial cause of the rioting that marred Woodstock 1999 -- at this time, our thoughts and respectful condolences go out to the friends and family of Mr. DeForest.

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Jamison

It was a few years back (2006 or 2007). But my friend and I tried to
bring a backpack filled with sealed water bottles into a Warped Tour
event at the Marysville (CA) Amphitheater and we were told that we
could only bring ONE bottle each and that we had to return the rest
of our bottles to my car. Since no ins and outs were allowed and 20
oz of water each was not enough water for my friend an I for an all
day event, I would say that despite our efforts, we were prevented
from bringing in a sufficient amount of water to the event. I
recognize that this was a few years ago and maybe that issue has been
addressed or that it could have been specific to the venue. However,
it makes me wonder if a similar policy was in place since the
statement makes no claim opposing such a policy.

August 04 2010 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Taylor

I was at this stop at Warped Tour. Bridge Nine's twitter is false. Water was 6 dollars. Gatorade was 4 dollars. Beer was 4 dollars. There were misting stations (eventually, a large hose was setup, spraying patrons, as well as a slip-n-slide) and refilling stations, but the refilling stations were NOT clearly marked. The misting stations and slip-n-slide were so crowded, it was almost impossible to get to them. There was a Monster Energy trailer that gave out free Monster Energy Drink, which might have contributed to the dehydration of everyone who drank it (trust me, there were a lot of people drinking Monster). I myself witnessed a seizure of a young girl on the Andrew W.K. merch table from the heat. People complained about not being able to bring water in with them. You can bring water in with you, you just have to make sure THAT THE BOTTLE IS SEALED. This prevents smuggling alcohol in. Before you go to a concert, you really should check the venue's website and find out their policy with beverages and any other restrictions they may have to make sure you stay safe. I personally went to KU med for dehydration (even after 7 bottles of water and 3 bottles of gatorade). I want to personally thank the medical staff on hand. They did everything they could to help all the kids that were suffering.

My condolences go out to Curtis' family and friends. This is an unforseen event and it takes it's toll on everyone.

August 04 2010 at 9:11 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Taylor's comment
jdeforest83

I know this is late but thank you for your condolences. But the determining factor in his death was not dehydration. He had a seizure which asthma played a part in. (He was my husband and father of our two kids). I just wish people (not saying you) would stop using him as an example when they dont know the real cause of death.

January 12 2012 at 12:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nameless

I was there at the stop in Bonner Springs, and water WAS NOT $10 a bottle, it was $4! There were many places to refill bottles with water, a waterfall, slip N' slide, and the crowd control was giving water to anyone and everyone.

August 04 2010 at 12:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply