What Started as A Great Stag Trip Was Turned Into a
Nightmare In 22 Hurricane Minutes.
As you may know last Wednesday I went off to from the UK to Belgium for one of my oldest friends stag doo’s. We were heading to a festival called pukkelpop. Its about 90 minutes away from Brussels. So we are full of fun as we head off on our Eurostar adventure. Nine guys looking forward to 5 days of boys time and of course, the odd beer! (aherm!).
The train journey was good fun as it would be with 9 lads together. Although we are all fast approaching 40 so it seems quieter than years gone by. 
We arrive in the festival venue on the Wednesday 17th August in the afternoon. we wait to get our bands on our wrists then its off to pitch our tents ready for 4 days. It took a while as we are really bad campers!!
the stag. Danny Stone aka Basher.
Now half way through the 1st day of the festival the sun turned to black sky really really quickly. We were watching Skunk Anansie and what followed was crazy, surreal and scary.
We ran to the nearest tent, lost one of our group (which I am sure you can imagine was a huge worry) but we got to one of the big tents. This lasted for around 25 minutes. We could hear the horror unfold as screams of people trying to get shelter just as we were.
There was flying debris from various structures and then 1″ thick hail stones started to fall. People were being blown by HUGE gusts and now giant hail hitting them. Some didn’t make cover so huddled together outside supporting each other and right at that moment I not only got to witness a terrible tragedy unfolding but also an incredible human spirit as everyone tried to help each other.
We were fortunate as we found a tent that held strong but others were not so lucky.
This is where our friend had been standing but moved 10 minutes before it collapsed. as the mini hurricane passed we were left with a flooded festival around 1 metre of water and what become evident was that it had not only claimed injuries but actually claimed lives.
Our 1st thought was our friend and how hard the camp site was hit. So we gathered that it would be best to wade through the flood and head to camp and try and find our mate. We found him thank god but we also found
It had claimed a life. Someone in their tent had a tree fall on them. the last count was around 70 in hospital and 5 dead with more fighting for their life still.
The Pukkelpop festival was obviously cancelled.
And as all around me sunk in I remember being overcome by emotion.
Why did I ever waste time!?
Why did I worry about shit!?
Why did I not always appreciate what I already have fully!?
Why did I not spend more time doing puzzles with my 4 year old son!?
Or Play more Dora with my 2 yr old daughter?!
Why did I ever worry about what people though of me that stopped me from living my life as I choose!!??
At that moment I appreciated my family. I appreciated my friends. I appreciated my life! More than I ever have.
We helped some folks get sorted after that event, got ourselves together and had to pack up but rather than end the stag trip we decided to head to Brussels and to get a youth hostel for us all and make the best of it all. Life, after all, goes on.
The pukkelpop stag. the 3 on the left are 3 of my oldest friends. THAT is what LIFE is truly about!
Jay Roberts
Pukkelpop 2011 killed 5 innocent people. That was a reminder to live.
