The loved ones of an avid Oasis fan who tragically lost his life after plummeting from a great height during the band's concert at Wembley Stadium on Saturday have honored him as "a devoted family patriarch." Lee Claydon, a 45-year-old from Bournemouth, was remembered by his father Clive as "a wonderful individual" and "a diligent family provider." The 75-year-old elder expressed his family's profound grief, noting that his son had "everything promising in his future."
On Sunday, authorities disclosed that a man in his forties was discovered with injuries indicative of a fall and was pronounced deceased at the London stadium. Mr. Claydon, who worked as a landscape gardener, reportedly tumbled from an upper seating level of the venue.
His father clarified that while Lee "might have had a couple of beers, he hadn't consumed any drugs." He added, "People have spoken ill, but it was purely an accident." Clive expressed concerns regarding the stadium's safety measures, although none of his family members witnessed the harrowing event. "All I know is, there was beer spilt everywhere, making it slick. He apparently slipped, and we're unaware of the rest. Questions linger about the barriers," he lamented.
Lee's brother Aaron posted on Facebook, "Still in disbelief and struggling to comprehend writing this, but I lost my closest companion, the man I admired, and the brother I was fortunate to call Lee Claydon, over the weekend." A GoFundMe page established by Aaron has garnered over £10,000 for Lee's partner and sons.
Another family member, Shannon Gabrielle, shared on Facebook, "My cousin Lee passed away tragically this weekend after undoubtedly having an unforgettable time at the Oasis concert. Most of you may have caught glimpses in the news, and as you can fathom, it has shattered our family, especially his closest-knit unit, who are enduring their darkest hour." She continued, "One never anticipates going out for an evening filled with joy and not returning home."
Oasis issued a statement on Sunday, expressing their "shock and sorrow" upon learning of the fan's demise. They further conveyed, "Oasis would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased." The Metropolitan Police has appealed to witnesses or those with mobile video footage of the incident to come forward. "The stadium was bustling, and we believe numerous individuals either witnessed or inadvertently captured the incident on their phones," they noted. The Health and Safety Executive has also been notified.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson emphasized, "Wembley Stadium operates under stringent health and safety protocols, fully complying with legal mandates for spectator and staff safety." They added, "Despite our best efforts, the fan passed away. Our thoughts are with his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers."
Oasis embarked on their Oasis Live '25 reunion tour in July. Saturday's concert marked one of seven sold-out reunion performances at Wembley, which accommodates 90,000 attendees across three tiers. The band will next perform at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh for three consecutive nights before heading to Ireland, Canada, the US, and Mexico. They will conclude their tour with two additional shows at Wembley on September 27th and 28th.
