Astroworld Festival Victims Died of Compression Asphyxia, Medical Examiner Rules

The 10 deaths were also officially ruled accidents by the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office

Travis Scott at Astroworld Festival 2021
Travis Scott at Astroworld Festival 2021 (Erika Goldring/WireImage)

Weeks after 10 people died at Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld Festival in Houston on November 5, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled that the victims died from compression asphyxia, according to The Associated Press. The deaths were also ruled accidental, as Rolling Stone notes. The ages of the victims ranges from 9 to 27. Representatives for Travis Scott offered no comment when reached by Pitchfork.

Roughly 300 people were injured at the festival, while 25 were taken to hospitals after a crowd surged toward the front of the stage at NRG Park. The tragedy was labeled a “mass casualty incident,” with an initial death toll of eight. In the following days, 22-year-old Bharti Shahani and a 9-year-old boy died after sustaining injuries at Astroworld.

Countless lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the victims and casualties of the November 5 stampede. Last week, Travis Scott gave his first interview about the tragedy since it occurred. He claimed that he was unaware that people were dying during his performance.

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