AN OVER-ZEALOUS dancer who cut her leg trying to pole dance on scaffolding was one of hundreds treated by medics at V Festival in Chelmsford.
Yet the overall number of incidents in Hylands Park dropped dramatically on last year, from 1,200 to 839.
"We think it has something to do with the levels attending this year but more significantly it was not too hot, and not too cold – the weather was just about right," said St John Ambulance Essex boss Darren Bartholomew.
St John Ambulance's 160-strong volunteer team treated 536 festivalgoers and admitted 10 to hospital.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust treated 303 and admitted 19.
"Generally the main things, as it has been in the past, were alcohol related. People who had drunk too much and had suffered trips or falls as a result of it," Darren said.
A man was also admitted to a field hospital on the Saturday for drinking a bottle of vodka, while others were treated for fractures and chest pains.
Mr Bartholomew explained the have-a-go pole dancer who cut herself became the topic of conversation on the Saturday evening.
"She was enjoying one of the acts on the Arena Stage at the time," he said.
"We think she fell down while dancing against one of the poles of the tent when she cut herself on one of the clamps which are segmented on the pole."
As part of a separate incident, a festival-goer and trained first aider told the Chronicle St John Ambulance took one hour and 20 minutes to treat a girl who was having a fit.
Victoria McKinstry-West said: "The girl in question had fitted, been sick and fell unresponsive six times before the first two St John's first-aiders arrived, being 50 minutes after first requested and then a further five times between them and the stretcher arriving a further 25 to 35 minutes later."
Mr Bartholomew said in reality the time difference could have been exaggerated, and that a difficulty in a steward locating medics could explain the lapse.
"It's probably a combination of it feeling like a long time when actually it may be as little as a few minutes and the steward having to locate a person," he said.
He added that any complaints should be directed first to V Festival organisers Maztec Ltd.
