S Africa fan killed in Linkin Park gig accident

A female fan of the US rock band Linkin Park has died from injuries after an advertising tower was blown over by strong winds ahead of a concert in South Africa, officials said on Thursday. "I can confirm that one person passed away late last night as result of the injuries sustained in the accident," Kylie Hatton, one of the Cape Town spokespersons told AFP. Around 20 fans were wounded and 12 of them required hospitalisation after the steel scaffolding blew over in high winds on Wednesday night outside the stadium. The brown iron structure carrying an advertising banner for an energy drink came tumbling down onto a parking lot in high winds blowing at 46 kilometres (29 miles) per hour before the opening of the show. But Hatton said it did not collapse anywhere near "where people were queueing." The rock group said while it was not in any way related to the advert sponsor or the company that erected it, it expressed "deep sadness and concern for those injured and our heartfelt condolences to the family of the fan who died as a result of her injuries." "We take the safety of our fans very seriously and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy," the group said in a statement. The accident came as the American rockers readied to play their first gig of a two concert tour in the country. The concert went ahead as planned, after police declared the venue safe. The main act went on stage at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT), some two hours after the accident.