A man has been killed after a large tree crashed on to his tent in Edinburgh during the first weekend of the city’s internationally renowned festival.
Police were called to woodland next to the Water of Leith – the river that runs through Edinburgh – at about 3.30am on Saturday. The area, accessed from Miller Row, is very close to the city centre.
Officers said a very large tree had fallen on the tent in which the man and another man were sleeping. The man died at the scene, while his 35-year-old companion suffered minor injuries. He did not require medical attention, a Police Scotland spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said: “Officers have consulted with the appropriate partners, who are confident that the tree fell as a result of natural occurrences. We’re currently working to trace the deceased’s next of kin, and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal [Scottish public prosecutor].”
There is huge demand for accommodation in the Scottish capital during August as it hosts the fringe festival - the world’s largest arts event, which officially began on Friday. In 2015 there were 50,459 performances of 3,314 shows in 313 venues across the three weeks.
The event was first held in 1947 as a counterpart to the newly established Edinburgh international festival, which was programmed more conservatively.
