A third Burning Man attendee has died after being transported from the Nevada desert festival to a Reno-area hospital, authorities said. The death follows two men who died at the temporary Black Rock City site within roughly 48 hours earlier in the event. Officials have not released the circumstances or identity of the third person, whose death occurred outside the jurisdiction of the local sheriff’s office. Burning Man concluded Monday after drawing tens of thousands of people to northern Nevada.
Authorities are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results in the two earlier deaths. The annual gathering began August 30 in the Black Rock Desert and is known for its temporary art installations and the burning of a large wooden effigy.
Article Subheadings
| 1) | Third death reported after hospital transport |
| 2) | Investigation remains outside local jurisdiction |
| 3) | Details of the first attendee death |
| 4) | Second death at temporary Black Rock City |
| 5) | Festival context and pending findings |
Third death reported after hospital transport
Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said his office received information that a third festival participant died while being transported from Burning Man to a hospital in the Reno area. The information was provided after the festival ended Monday, September 7, and no further details about the person were immediately available.
The death is the latest connected to this year’s gathering, which took place in the Black Rock Desert. Authorities have not said what caused the death, whether it occurred during an emergency evacuation or transport, or whether it was connected to conditions at the festival.
Investigation remains outside local jurisdiction
Allen said he could not provide additional information because the third death occurred outside his office’s jurisdiction. Questions were referred to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, which are responsible for matters in the area where the death occurred.
The limited information means investigators have not publicly identified the attendee, disclosed a suspected cause of death, or described any circumstances surrounding the hospital transfer. Authorities are expected to provide further information only if it becomes available through the relevant agencies.
Details of the first attendee death
The first death was reported Thursday at Rampart, the temporary hospital operating at the festival. Organizers described the man as being in his mid-50s. Deputies found Sampson Tshombe dead at the hospital after he had been found on a street in the festival grounds.
Emergency personnel performed CPR for several minutes before a doctor pronounced Tshombe dead. Investigators reported no external signs of foul play. Because authorities did not have his medical history, his body was taken to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy and toxicology screening.
Second death at temporary Black Rock City
On Saturday, deputies were called to Black Rock City after festival organizers reported that a 60-year-old man had died. The temporary city is constructed each year for the event and serves as the central setting for its camps, art installations and performances.
Craigh Mann was found dead at about 3:17 p.m. in a trailer he shared with his significant other, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators found no outward signs of foul play. Mann’s body was also taken for autopsy and toxicology testing because investigators lacked his medical history and other information that might explain the death.
Festival context and pending findings
The annual gathering began August 30 in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and concluded Monday. It can attract as many as 80,000 participants, commonly known as burners, and culminates in the burning of a large wooden effigy. Attendees also gather to experience temporary art, themed camps and performances in the remote desert setting.
The sheriff’s office said autopsy and toxicology results for Tshombe and Mann were expected within six to eight weeks and that it would not release additional information until those results were received. Organizers said the community’s safety and well-being remained a priority and that support resources were available around the clock in Black Rock City.
“The safety and well-being of our community and staff remain our highest priority.”
Key Points
| 1) | A third attendee died while being transported to a Reno-area hospital. |
| 2) | Two earlier deaths involved Sampson Tshombe and Craigh Mann. |
| 3) | Authorities reported no external or outward signs of foul play in either earlier case. |
| 4) | Autopsy and toxicology results for the two men were expected in six to eight weeks. |
Summary
The third death adds to a series of fatalities reported during the 2026 Burning Man gathering, but authorities have not disclosed a cause or linked the cases. Investigations into the two identified deaths remain pending, with officials relying on autopsy and toxicology results before releasing more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Burning Man attendees have died this year?
Authorities have reported three deaths connected to the 2026 gathering, including the third participant who died while being transported to a Reno-area hospital.
What is known about the first two deaths?
Sampson Tshombe, described as being in his mid-50s, was found at the temporary festival hospital after being found on a street. Craigh Mann, 60, was found dead in a trailer on Saturday. Investigators reported no signs of foul play in either case.
When will more information be available?
Autopsy and toxicology results for the first two deaths were expected in six to eight weeks. The circumstances of the third death remain under the jurisdiction of authorities in the area where the hospital transport ended.
