A father-of-three plunged to his death after falling over a 1.1-meter-tall barrier from Level 5 at Wembley Stadium during an Oasis reunion concert on August 2.
Lee Claydon, 45, a landscape gardener from Bournemouth, sustained multiple body injuries in the fall at the end of the show. Medics fought to save his life as shocked fans watched while the band completed their performance. He was pronounced dead at a Wembley medical center at 10:38 p.m. that evening. A post-mortem examination on August 6 confirmed multiple injuries as the cause of death.
Coroner’s Concerns Over Barriers
Senior Coroner Andrew Walker revealed at a pre-inquest review in Barnet Coroner’s Court that officials received a letter from a Wembley staff member with new details on safety barriers. Walker directed the health and safety report to address the design, placement, and effectiveness of Level 5 barriers in ensuring a safe environment. He also requested information on any modifications made since installation.
Police Ruling and Oasis Response
Detective Sergeant James Raffin of the Metropolitan Police described the incident as a “tragic accident” during a November hearing. “It’s no longer a criminal prosecution. I’m confident we can rule out any suicide. From everything we have seen this is a tragic accident,” Raffin stated. He confirmed the police investigation concluded, noting a toxicology report showed alcohol levels typical for concertgoers that night.
Oasis issued a statement expressing shock: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show. Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.”
Family Tributes
Mr. Claydon’s partner, Amanda Purnell, and family members attended the review via video link. His father, Clive Claydon, 75, shared: “He was a lovely bloke, loved to be with his family—a hard-working family man, he loved his kids, looked after them really well. He had everything going for him. I am so devastated.”
Brother Aaron Claydon posted on a GoFundMe page: “Our family has been turned upside down… Lee was a loving family man who was a role model to his son Harry… He loved all outdoor activities—one of his favorite hobbies was fishing. He also loved music and his guitar.”
Cousin Shannon Robbie wrote on Facebook: “My cousin Lee tragically passed away this weekend after no doubt having the time of his life at the Oasis concert… You just don’t fathom you will go out for a night of amazing fun and not come home.”
Next Steps
The full inquest is scheduled for April 29 at 10 a.m.
