Nine-year-old boy injured at Astroworld dies, becoming festival’s 10th fatality
Ezra Blount was put into a medically induced coma after he suffered serious injuries in the crowd crush at the festival
A nine-year-old boy who was on life support after sustaining serious injuries at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival has died.
Ezra Blount, from Dallas, Texas was put into a medically induced coma after he was trampled in a crowd crush at the festival earlier this month (November 5).
Blount died on Sunday (December 14) at Texas children’s hospital in Houston, family attorney Ben Crump confirmed.
In a news statement, Crump said: “The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son. This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration. Ezra’s death is absolutely heartbreaking.”
His death makes him the 10th person to die who attended the festival, all of whom were between the ages 14 to 27.
On a GoFundMe page, Ezra’s father, Treston Blount, described what happened at the festival: “We attended Travis Scott’s Astro world fest I had my son on my shoulders awaiting drakes stage appearance I began to be crushed until I couldn’t breathe I passed out.”
When Blount came around, he was told his son had experienced severe injuries including swelling in the back of the brain and trauma to organs.
He said: “We are certain that he was trampled and is still in induced coma we are thankful for his life and thankful for all the prayers and positivity we are asking for donations for his medical bills and anything that comes along with this tragedy.”
Several lawsuits have been filed against Scott, Drake, Live Nation and festival organisers after the crush where some 300 injured attendees were also treated at the festival site.
In a complaint filed by festival goer Kristian Paredes, 23, the rappers and show producer are accused of negligence and “inciting the crowd”, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The complaint also states that Drake “came on stage alongside Travis Scott and helped incite the crowd”.
Scott took to his Instagram on November 7 to respond to the tragedy, having already shared a social media statement the day before. “I’m honestly just devastated and I could never imagine anything like this happening,” he said.
“My fans really mean the world to me,” he added. “I always just really want to leave them with a positive experience. Anytime I can make out what’s going on, I stop the show and help them get the help they need.”
It followed an initial statement on social media in which he said he was “absolutely devastated” by the “tragic loss of life” at the concert.
Drake also issued a statement on his Instagram story on November 9. “I’ve spent the past few days trying to wrap my mind around this devastating tragedy,” he said. “I hate resorting to this platform to express an emotion as delicate as grief but this is where I find myself.
“My heart is broken for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and for anyone who is suffering. I will continue to pray for all of them, and will be of service in any way I can, May God be with you all.”