This tragic event happened in 2017. Burning Man celebrates arts in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. He was identified as 41-year-old. The man was rescued from the blaze, but he later died. By Elias Leight . I was at Element 11 in 2014 (a regional Burn in Utah) when a guy did the same thing and ran passed the fire patrol and jumped in. Aaron Joel Mitchell, 41, stunned onlookers as he dodged security to throw himself into the raging flames of a massive effigy being burned in front of thousands of people in Nevada on Saturday.. A Burning Man Festival Attendee Loses Life After Running Into The Flame | Lehren News - YouTube Download the 'Lehren Android App' - https://goo.gl/m2xNRtThis year's Burning Man festival. Aaron Joel Mitchell, 41,stunned onlookers as he dodged security to throw himself into the raging flames ofa massive effigy being burned in front of thousands of people in Nevada on Saturday. The sheriff said Mitchell was a U.S. citizen who had moved to Switzerland. Other videos show the activities of the 2017 Burning Man festival from afar. His mumJohnnye Mitchelldescribed her son, known as Joel, as a "loving and nice person" who seemed happy when she saw him just four weeks ago. Five months after Aaron Joel Mitchell ran into a wall of fire at Burning Mans pinnacle celebration last year, some but not all questions surrounding his death are being answered. There are no current changes to how the event will beoperated, but the federal agency also has not listed the stipulations for this year's event, according to BLM spokesman Kyle Hendrix. It's part of their tenants of radical self-expression.". Video unavailable Some 70,000 people from all over the world are thought to attend the gathering, and the man is believed to have dodged a number of security personnel to reach the flames. Mitchell danced the days away at Burning Man, but the nights were different. The effigy burned for around 10 minutes before Wallace headed towards the structure while being chased by security guards. 152 level 2 His mother said he had been in high spirits when he had left a couple weeks earlier to go to a solar eclipse festival. A statement noted that Mitchells death was especially traumatic to juveniles who are allowed to attend the festival, and may not have the same coping skills as adults do when they see something this tragic happen before their eyes.. The annual arts festival in the Black Rock Desert attracts 70,000 to the city on a dry lake bed two hours north of Reno. 2017 The Associated Press. It was investigated as a suicide. Copyright 2023 The Inquisitr. Allen said injuries were reported in the past when attendees had tried to run into the flames while the 40-foot "Man" sculpture was being burnt. Click Manage settings for more information and to manage your choices. He often meditated, and he'd make smoothies for all of his campmates,weary from the hottest year of Burning Man that anyone could recall. Johnnye added that Mitchell, who grew up in McAlester, Oklahoma, was a "loving" and "nice person" who loved outdoor activities such as hiking and running. "He was like my mentor. View our online Press Pack. Mitchell's shocking actions and death at the Burning Man festival were caught in haunting photos and videos by those who saw him running into a burning statue. The University of California, Davis Medical Center treated Mitchell, though staff did not conduct an autopsy report since the cause of death was apparent. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This year, a festival-goer named Aaron Mitchell, 41, broke through two levels of security guards protecting the area where the burn was taking place. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The man was later identified as Aaron Joel Mitchell, 41, a construction worker from Oklahoma who had been living in Switzerland. The sheriff said Mitchell's was a rare case and the only fatality he was aware of in his 15 years with the county, CBS News reported. and our Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Police are investigating Mr Mitchell's horrific death, which was witnessed by hundreds of fellow . Ruled as a suicide, his cause of death was due to cardiac arrest, bodily shock and third degree burns on 97 percent of his body. The fire is so big, youre going to see it," said Berry, who's in support of such preventative measures. Some 70,000 people from all over the world are thought to attend the gathering, and the man is believed to have dodged a number of security personnel to reach the flames. You see what appears to be a long haired man running full force into the blaze and then tripping and falling with fire rescuers close behind.. He wants to do something special for his friend while at this year's celebration, but he's not sure what yet. Graphic photos and videos purporting to show the moment that 41-year-old Aaron Joel Mitchell ran and dove into a structure that was fully engulfed in flames are being published on social media and beyond. After breaking through a human chain of security officers, Aaron Joel Mitchell sprinted into the flames at the Burning Man festival (2017). In 2014 Christoper Wallace ran into an inferno at the Element 11 festival in Utah - a spin-off of the Burning Man event. 8 Eclias 5 yr. ago Way to jinx it. A fence. A. Donald termed Mitchell, who worked in construction industry, a "good son" and said he wished what happened to his son should never happen again. Joel, from Oklahoma, had been living in Switzerland with his wife where he worked in the construction industry. According to The Associated Press, it was the first time Mitchell had attended Burning Man. Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, Bianca Gascoigne reveals very unusual name for her newborn daughter, I took pic of son, 18, before his first night out then the worst thing happened, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The nine-day festival in northern Nevada was briefly hampered when a lightning-sparked wildfire temporarily shut down Burning Mans main travel route last week, according to SFGate. The arts festival in Nevada regularly brings in a mixed crowd of curious tourists and drug-crazed revelers seeking a spiritual experience. Copyright IBTimes 2023. In 2014, a man in Utah died by jumping into a huge ceremonial bonfire in an event that was similar to Burning Man. He was taken by helicopter to the UC Davis hospital burn center, where he was pronounced dead. There was little that he could do. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Aaron Joel Mitchell, 41, was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California after being pulled from debris, but he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning. His mother was unaware of any mental health issues, she said, and he was never a troublemaker. For other inquiries, Contact Us. He was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back, his meal before he had taken a bite, or the last dollar in his wallet (these are actually things I saw him do first hand). Mitchell's friend of more than 13 years, Justin Berry, had been with Mitchell the entire week. In 2014, a man died in Utah after plunging into a huge ceremonial bonfire at the Element 11 Arts Festival, a local version of the Burning Man festival. The sheriff's office says: "Rescuers had to leave him to allow the structure to fall and provide for rescuer safety before they could go back into the flames to extract Aaron from the debris.". He was in great spirits when we saw him.". Man falls into flames at Nevada's Burning Man festival https://t.co/GRrdGDukcF pic.twitter.com/uoDqTMqFbQ, CarHireUK.co (@CarHireUKdotco) September 3, 2017. Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said the man ran through a human-chain of security officers at around 10.30pm on Saturday. Nevada sheriff: Man who ran into Burning Man festival's signature burning of a towering effigy has died. FOLLOW MORE IBT NEWS ON THE BELOW CHANNELS, IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. A photo from the Burning Man festival near Gerlach, Nevada, at the Black Rock Desert, is shown above. Millions of Americans nearing retirement age with no savings. His parents still have no idea why, nor his friends. They used to have wild times going to see one of theirfavorite jambands, Wide Spread Panic. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Berry still has photos of his friend from years past, but, when Mitchell ran into the fire, he had the phone with all of the photos his friends had taken for him during their nights of whimsy. 1:24. Burning Man at Burning Man12:55 Burning Man at Burning Man! More:French architect will use robotic tools to build Burning Man Temple, More:Burning Man ticket sales begin in January, stay same price, More:Burning Man wants permission to grow to 100,000 people in the coming years. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Thousands of Burning Man festival revellers see a man BURN TO DEATH after he dived into the flameshttps://t.co/VKPS6Pk0jF. The week-long gathering culminates with the burning of a wooden statue, which was 40 feet tall this year, USA Today reported. The reason behind Mitchell's drastic step was not known, the sheriff said. Aaron Joel Mitchell died early Sunday at the UC . The mother said Mitchell was married but did not have any children, Reno Gazette-Journal reported. Related:Man runs into flames as Burning Man 2017 comes to an end; fence placed around Temple burn, Related:Burning Man wants permission to grow to 100,000 people in the coming years, Related:Burning Man ticket sales begin in January, stay same price. He was airlifted to the UC Davis hospital burn center in California, where he died Sunday morning. Over the years as the event grew in popularity, deaths and crime have been reported, ranging from car crashes to drug use. Burning Man, which attracts nearly 70,000 people to Northern Nevadas Black Rock Desert each year, lasts a week before participants encircle the effigy to watch it burn to the ground under a dramatic display of fireworks. Aaron Joel Mitchell was 41. Allen also said it was not certain whether the act was carried out under the influence of drugs, CBS News reported. Rescuers managed to get the man out of the fire and he was airlifted to an area hospital, but the sheriff later reported that he had died. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, SpaceX launches new crew on flight to space station, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles due to turbulence, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, Prosecution wraps its case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect. THE family of a married man who ran into an inferno at a Burning Man festival refuse to believe he committed suicide. A photo from the Burning Man festival near Gerlach, Nevada, at the Black Rock Desert, is shown above. It was just a short conversation, said Mitchells mother, Johnnye Mitchell. When Berry found out after the burn that his friend had run into the fire, herushed back to the camp. "The coroner asked us if he was depressed and we said no. "Honestly, he was the closest thing to Jesus, in a new age way," said his friend, Justin Berry, who was with Mitchell the entire week before he ended his life. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. Following the death, authorities established that the 30-year-old had intended to take his own life and had told other festival-goers of his plans. Here is a recent photo of Mitchell before the tragedy: Aaron Joel Mitchell pic.twitter.com/OFZuQBu5Bq. She has little left of her son besides some clothes, photos and his high school yearbooks. https://t.co/ntfaZR9TsD pic.twitter.com/QysMDgoYL1, Carolyn Cerbin (@carolyncerbin) September 3, 2017, According to The Las Vegas Review-Journal, The annual festival is held in a dry lake bed in Pershing County., (Resulta una persona con quemaduras graves ayer en el "Burning Man Festival" ) Enterate en este link https://t.co/D50UMDOm42 pic.twitter.com/8LUlEhQ84V, Beat Night Mx (@Beatnightmx) September 3, 2017, As TMZ put it, a guy literally sprinted past fire crews Saturday night that were stationed around one of the giant burning man structures in Nevada, leaving him engulfed in flames. A man's died after running into a fire at the Burning Man Festival in the US state of Nevada. This weekend, thousands gathered in Nevada for the annual Burning Man festival, but the festivities were cut short when a man ran into the festival's titular Burning . Hes 41, but they are always your baby, said Johnnye Mitchell to RGJ. His mother is using God to help her heal, his friends, recollections of hisadventurouslife. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Berry and Mitchell knew each other from when Mitchell lived in the Pacific Northwest. Burning Man said in a statement that they had cancelled burns through noon Sunday but would go ahead with the 8 p.m. temple burn, another signature event that signals the end of the nine-day festival. The sheriff said the man was rescued by firefighters but later died at the UC Davis hospital burn centre in California. Cookie Notice "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. His devastated mumJohnnye Mitchell described her son, known as Joel, as a "loving and nice person" who seemed happy when she saw him just four weeks ago. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. https://t.co/G1II97HFPk pic.twitter.com/3Y6IuwjLhP. About 10:20 p.m. Saturday, Mitchell broke through two levels of safety perimeters at the Northern Nevada festival and ran straight into the active fire, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The festival culminates with the burning of a towering 40-foot effigy made of wood, a symbol of rebirth, which usually happens the Saturday before the Labor Day holiday. Berry spent months after Mitchell's deathhardly able to speak of him, and it still is beyond difficult. He was really a happy guy. Organizers are also offering emotional support counseling on site, saying in a statement: "Now is a time for closeness, contact and community. 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