A young man has died at the Body & Soul festival which is being held in Westmeath this weekend.

"Gardaí are investigating the sudden death of a 31-year-old man at a music event on Saturday afternoon.

"The man was pronounced dead at the scene and was removed to Mullingar Hospital where a post-mortem will be scheduled," a garda spokesman said.

The man's death is not being treated a suspicious.

The man is believed to have collapsed at the event around 3pm as around 15,000 people attended the festival at Ballinlough Castle on Saturday.

The three-day festival sees a range of music acts, comedians and includes a number of well-being practises like yoga and mindfulness.

Festival director Avril Stanley said:

"We can confirm that An Garda Siochana at Delvin Garda Station are investigating a non-suspicious sudden death. The male was taken to the medical tent this afternoon by medical staff and tended to at the time by advanced paramedics and a consultant doctor in emergency medicine. His family and friends have been notified.

"We wish to extend our deepest condolences to them at this time. We will continue to work closely with the Gardaí on their investigation in this matter. The team at Body & Soul are absolutely devastated by the news today.

"We have no further information. It is a matter for the gardai."

This is the first time there has been a death at the festival, which has been running for eight years.

Online Editors