Authorities have verified the passing of a third individual at the Burning Man festival, following the earlier reports of two deaths during the annual gathering in the Nevada desert. The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office disclosed that Armando Ramirez from Truckee, California, passed away while en route to a Reno hospital, around 190 kilometers south of the festival. The 51-year-old was declared deceased in the ambulance early Friday, with the cause and manner of death pending further tests, although no foul play is suspected.
The festival, known for its art installations and emphasis on self-expression, had previously announced the deaths of Craigh Mann, 60, and Sampson Tshombe, a man in his mid-50s. Mann was found deceased in a trailer he shared with his partner, while Tshombe passed away at the festival’s temporary medical facility after a medical emergency. Authorities stated that there were no indications of foul play in either case, with autopsies and toxicology screenings scheduled to provide more insights in the coming weeks.
The 40th edition of the festival commenced on August 30 and concluded on Monday, attracting tens of thousands of participants who camped in the desert to engage in avant-garde performances. The festival’s culmination traditionally involves the burning of a large wooden effigy resembling a man. Despite its celebratory nature, Burning Man has witnessed fatalities over the years, with more than a few deaths reported since it relocated from San Francisco to the Black Rock desert in 1990. Pershing County Sheriff and Coroner Jerry Allen noted that the festival typically records one fatality annually, as reported by NBC News.