Hundreds of revellers screamed in horror as a man plunged 30ft from the roof of a concert big top.

The man fell from rigging in a marquee at Brighton's Loop festival after climbing a main supporting pole during a gig.

Witnesses said he tried to swing across the big top, in Victoria Gardens, Grand Parade, to another pole but lost his grip.

He landed feet first then slumped to the floor, mumbling "I can fly" to security guards who went to his aid.

As paramedics treated the injured man, the digital music event on Saturday night was brought to an abrupt halt.

The man, who suffered suspected leg and back injuries which police said were not life threatening, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Property maintenance manager Jeremy Pugh, 42, from Kemp Town, Brighton, said: "You could see him dangling from the roof and it was obvious something bad was going to happen.

"He could have killed himself."

The man, thought to be in his twenties, started shinning up the pole during a performance by headline act Fujiya and Miyagi.

Mr Pugh said: "At first everyone thought it was quite funny.

"He was climbing and dancing and everyone was cheering him on. But when he got to the top we realised it was going to go wrong."

Sam Thomson, 27, of London Road, Brighton, said: "Everyone was watching him. He got about halfway across and then he was just dangling for about a minute. Then he lost his grip and came plunging down."

Mr Thomson said the crowd of around 300 packed into the marquee screamed as the man fell. "His feet hit the ground first then he lurched forward and nearly hit his head. Then he fell backwards and was just lying there," he said.

Security staff closed the marquee while medics tended the casualty. Brighton and Hove City Council health and safety inspectors have launched an investigation into the incident.

Loop festival director Jason Clarke was not available for comment.

The festival was being staged for the first time to showcase Brighton and Hove's thriving digital music, film, art and animation scene.

Saturday night was the main event and featured performances by chart-toppers The Go! Team and Foals. Police said the event had passed without problems before the man fell.

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