‘I just lost it’: Campers reveal horror experience escaping Splendour
Two campers who resorted to sleeping in their car at Splendour say they were told they couldn’t leave despite being metres from a road out.
We’ve seen the struggle festivalgoers faced getting into Splendour in the Grass and now the horror stories of getting out have emerged.
A woman who documented her experience of the three-day music festival in Byron Bay has revealed she was finally able to escape the camp grounds after previously being told she wasn’t allowed to leave, despite being camped metres from a road.
Taking to TikTok, Hannah Patterson said after camp officials refused to let her and her friend out of the gate in front of her, her mum “went a little bit Karen” and was calling festival officials demanding they let her out.
“My beautiful mumma went full psycho mumma bear and was calling people until 12 o’clock last night. She was on the phone to anyone and everyone that she can trying to get us out of there,” she said.
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Eventually Ms Patterson’s mum got in contact with a camp official and they made a plan to get her and her friend out of the festival.
“So in the morning we packed up the rest of our muddy stuff – I had to abandon the tent – and they got us out. All they needed was this wrench to open the gate when they were telling me they had to take down the whole fence,” she said.
The camper revealed how prior to getting out she “just lost it” and “broke down crying” because they wouldn’t let her leave.
In a previous video, she explained she had tried to enjoy herself but now in her fourth day of wearing wet shoes and sleeping upright in the car because of the flooded campsite, she and her friend just wanted to go home.
“We tried for like five hours yesterday and last night to get out of here … they’re just not letting us leave,” Hannah Patterson said.
“We paid to be here and it has been really horrible and we just want to leave but they’re not actually letting us go,” she said.
Ms Patterson showed on camera that there was a temporary fence between her car and the road, which could be moved.
She said staff had told her they were not allowed to move a section of the fence to leave and had to wait until Monday when the festival ends.
In a second video, Ms Patterson added while she would have loved a refund, she wasn’t asking for that and all she wanted to do was leave.
“I completely understand this was a natural weather event but there could have been a little bit more preparation, but honestly I don’t even mind. I just want to go. If I want to go, I should be able to go,” she said.
Despite her negative experience, Ms Patterson praised the festival officials who helped and comforted her and her friend.
She said she was “relieved and happy” to be home and finally able to have a shower.
Other TikTok users expressed their shock at the situation, urging her to move the fence herself or call the police.
“Oh the anxiety I would have from not being able to leave if I wanted to!” one wrote.
Another said: “If your car is able to get out then that fence should be taken down!! This is so frustrating! I’d be loosing my mind feeling caged in!”
news.com.au has contacted Splendour in the Grass for comment.
On the FAQ section of its website, it states campers are not allowed to leave early because of the way cars are parked.
“Vehicles are parked tightly end-to-end and your departure is dependent on the vehicle ahead of you leaving first, which happens after the festival on the Monday morning,” it said.
“If you need to leave on Sunday night and are camping, your only option is to camp WITHOUT a vehicle in the campgrounds and leave with your gear on foot.”
Ms Patterson told news.com.au leaving her car and belongings behind until Monday “wasn’t a viable option” because she lived hours away.
She said her videos were taken at a time of high-stress and she reiterated her gratitude for the staff who helped her leave.
“The staff are doing a fantastic job considering circumstances out of their control,” she said.
Ms Patterson’s story comes after revellers claim they were forced to wait in “hellish” queues for up to six hours just to get on a bus out of the festival grounds on Saturday night.
“When you’ve been in the bus line for four hours and still have so far to go,” one frustrated woman wrote on TikTok as she shared footage of crowds packed together like sardines waiting for transport.
“This is so grim shame on the organisers! What do they expect not allowing people to be picked up and no parking – total scam artists,” wrote one angry attendee.
Another woman claimed she had been stuck in the queue for six hours.
At 4am, a defeated group of mates took to TikTok to reveal they were still waiting for a bus after almost five hours in the cold.
“Not to mention it’s a PREBOOKED bus ticket … like they knew how many people needed to go home,” one woman in the group wrote.
“Update: just got home. It’s 6am. The sun is UP.”
On Sunday afternoon, Splendour wrote on its Facebook page it understood people’s frustration with its bus services and that about 1000 people were affected by extended delays due to bus driver shortages on its Tweed routes.
“Our sincere apologies to you all. We are doing everything we can to secure extra services for tonight’s exit, which is challenging in the current climate,” the post read.
“Please be patient, be kind and be safe. We want to get you home as quickly as possible.”
Many hit back in the comments claiming much more than 1000 people were affected.
Extreme weather saw day one of the festival cancelled on Friday.
Thousands of festival goers were forced to retreat to Byron Bay after main stage acts, including headliners Gorillaz as well as the Avalanches and Kacey Musgraves, were cancelled as hectic weather turning turned the festival site into a flooded swamp.
The unlucky ticketholders who had to trek through muddy water were promised refunded tickets.
Day two was less chaotic and with the rain relenting, organisers are hoping the final day of Splendour will run smoothly as tens of thousands gather to watch rapper Tyler, The Creator headline after sets by Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher and British star Aitch.
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