Three-year-old boy dies after 'episode' at festival

A three-year-old boy has died following a "medical episode" at a large family festival.

Officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary were called to the scene at Carfest, at Laverstoke Park Farm, in Overton, Hampshire, shortly after 23:00 BST on Saturday.

The child died a short time after having been taken by road to hospital.

Police said the death was being treated as unexpected, with a file being prepared for the coroner.

In a statement, festival organisers said: "All of our emergency teams worked together with the support of the NHS to take the child to hospital where he sadly passed away."

They added that Chris Evans, the festival's founder, along with the whole Carfest team were "deeply saddened" by the tragedy.

"We have and will continue to respect the family’s wishes at this very difficult time and allow them to grieve in private," the statement said.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance said its helicopter had been dispatched to the incident.

It added that following treatment from a doctor and specialist paramedic, the child was taken to hospital by a team from South Central Ambulance Service.

The festival took place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 August and was created by Radio DJ Evans in 2011 to help raise money for UK children's charities.