Exit Death Accidental

The inquiry into the Exit Festival accident in Serbia that killed one music fan and badly injured two others determined it was due to "circumstances which could not have been foreseen nor prevented."

The investigation was announced after strong winds caused a branch from one of the trees on the campsite to break off and fall on two tents.

Three days before the festival, trees were trimmed by specialists who remove old and dying branches.

Immediately after the accident, all the trees were checked again and it was found that the branch that fell down was healthy with no dry leaves on it.

The result of the inquiry was officially announced July 18, less than a week after the accident happened.

Emergency services also arrived within minutes of the accident but the local hospital’s best efforts were not enough to save Jelena Matic, 28, from Serbia, who died a few hours later.

Dafina Anastasova, from Macedonia, was still in critical condition at press time after sustaining a heavy blow to the head from the fallen branch. Gjorgji Markoski from Macedonia underwent surgery and is in stable condition.

Exit co-founder Ivan Milivojev announced that the festival has decided to establish a scholarship foundation for the best students from Paracin, which is Matic’s hometown.

He said event organizers are consulting Matic’s family because they would like it to carry his name.

The accident marred a festival that should have seen Exit celebrate being voted "best European festival" in a poll carried out by the U.K.’s Virtualfestivals.com, the first time the category has been included in the Web site’s annual awards programme.

More than 40,000 fans per day turned up to the historic Petrovaradin fortress July 10-13 to see a lineup that included Gogol Bordello, Manu Chao, Radio Bemba Soundsystem, Ministry, The Hives, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Sex Pistols and The Gossip.