A family’s heartbreak still lingers years after 17-year-old Anya Buckley died at Leeds Festival in 2019. She collapsed after taking a mix of party drugs and never came home.
Her aunt Anna said, “Her birthday, Christmas, weddings—every family event feels empty. The pain never goes away.” The tragedy has sparked calls for stronger safety at UK festivals, where dozens of young lives have been lost.
Families want organisers to “put people before profit” by offering drug testing, free water, and faster medical help. Anna believes security failed her niece: “Why weren’t they trained? If she’d had help sooner, maybe she’d still be here.”
Another teenager, David Celino, 16, also died at Leeds Festival in 2022. Campaigners now urge festivals to ban under-18s or ensure stricter protections. “Every drug death is preventable,” experts warn.
As crowds head to Leeds Festival this weekend, Anya’s story is a painful reminder: one bad choice can change everything. Should organisers do more to protect young lives at festivals?
