Pop singer commits suicide at Belgium Festival

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool frontman dies at Pukkelpop

Belgium Belgium | by Sam Chapman | 23 August 2010

The 22-year-old frontman of British pop group Ou Est Le Swimming Pool has died during the Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium, the Foreign Office have confirmed.

Charles Haddon jumped from a telecommunications mast behind the main stage on Friday night, falling to his death in the car park below.

Police are now treating the incident, which happened shortly after their performance at the three-day festival, as suicide.

Mr Haddon's family have been informed and a statement on the Pukkelpop Festival website has been released: “After performing with his band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, singer Charles Haddon decided to take his own life.

“Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family and friends.”

The band were due to perform at the Frequency Festival in Austria on Saturday (21 August), followed by a UK tour starting in October.

Fans have begun leaving condolence messages on the band's MySpace page.

The trio's highlights were a performance at Glastonbury 2009 and a supporting slot on tour with La Roux in the same year.

Pukkelpop 2010 marked its 25th anniversary, welcoming 198 acts and over 65 000 music fans. Dates for 2011 are 18-20 August.