An inquest opening at Woodvale Coroner's Court in Brighton heard that Robert Guanco, 41, a pastor at Jesus the Living Water Church in Eastbourne, died from "multiple severe injuries" and blunt force trauma. The injuries were sustained when a large wooden arch fell on him at the Big Church Festival near Steyning on 28 August.
A post-mortem examination gave the provisional cause of death as "1a multiple severe injuries and 1b blunt force trauma". Six other individuals were injured in the incident, with four requiring hospital treatment.
Area Coroner Joseph Turner offered condolences to Mr Guanco's family and adjourned the inquest until a pre-inquest review scheduled for 9 March. Horsham District Council is continuing a health and safety investigation into the incident, with a spokesperson stating that "a number of lines of inquiry are still being pursued."
Witnesses at the festival in August reportedly described people attempting to lift the heavy arch, which read "Everything's Unmissable," after it was blown over in the wind. Organisers of the Christian festival, founded in 2009, were said to be "heartbroken" by the events.
A fundraising page for Mr Guanco's widow, Isaeli, and daughter has raised over £243,000. His widow stated he had "never wasted a minute of his life" and expressed being "overwhelmed" by support.