'Unique' Bromley man died accidentally after body found in lake at festival

A young man described as 'unique' and 'different' by his family died accidentally, a coroner has ruled. Gboyega Odubanjo, 27, went missing at Shambala Festival in Northamptonshire on August 26, 2023.

A desperate search to find the man, from Bromley in South London, immediately ensued. His younger brother, Yomi Odubanjo, described his brother as 'unique' and 'interesting'.

But five days later, on August 31, the police confirmed a body had been found in a lake on the festival site. An inquest into the 27-year-old's death has now been held at Northampton Coroners Court.

READ MORE: Daniel Anjorin's family pay heartbreaking tribute after 14-year-old killed in Hainault sword attack

According to reporting from the Press Association, the inquest, held on Tuesday, April 30, heard that the poet had taken drugs and started acting "bizarrely" on the evening he and his friends had arrived at the festival.

He wasn't recognising other people and wanted to be left alone, the court heard. Senior coroner Anne Pember ruled that Mr Odubanjo’s death was an accident after hearing from the University of Hertfordshire PhD student’s friends how he had seemingly had a “bad trip” after drinking alcohol and taking ketamine and ecstasy.

Zach Hardman told the inquest the group of friends had arrived at Shambala at around 3.30pm on August 25 and after finishing setting up their tents at around 8.30pm, headed to a wooded bar area to drink and dance. He said Mr Odubanjo had been in “good spirits” and seemed relaxed but had become “quite intoxicated” after taking drugs, something he would usually do at social events.

As the group danced, he noticed Mr Odubanjo was no longer with them, and Mr Hardman went to find him, telling the court when he caught up with him, he did not seem to recognise him. He said: “It was like I was someone he had never seen before. I said ‘I’m your friend Zach’.

“He looked at me very intensely. He wanted to be alone. I thought the only thing I could do was to leave him and he would soon come out of that state and either return back to the woods with us or go to his tent.”

Another friend, Lola Seaton, told the court they had been having a conversation for around half an hour when Mr Odubanjo’s mood suddenly changed. Her statement said: “He said something like ‘Am I free to go now?’. I was taken aback, but said yes, of course. It was like he was telling me to go away.

“We walked away from each other, and I went back to the group and told my friends he was acting strangely.”

Northamptonshire Police were called to the festival site on August 27 with Pc Richard Umney telling the inquest Mr Odubanjo’s belongings were found inside his tent, which had not been slept in. Pc Umney said the poet was upgraded from a medium to a high risk missing person, saying: “The effect of the drugs should have worn off by that point and he should have made his way back to his tent.

“All his belongings were in his tent. There was nothing to suggest he had been planning to leave.”

Mr Odubanjo’s body was later found during a search of a lake on the estate, with his provisional driving licence in his pocket identifying him. A post-mortem examination found alcohol, ketamine and ecstasy in his blood, with coroner Ms Pember saying the amount found would have affected his cognitive function.

Speaking on behalf of his family after in the inquest, close friend of Mr Odubanjo, Tice Cin, said they were “heartbroken” at the loss of a “loving son and brother, treasured friend and acclaimed artist” and hope to work with festivals in the future to make sure those who attend are safe.

She said: “Gboyega’s disappearance was entirely out of character and remains a tragic and preventable loss, now ruled as a tragic accident at today’s inquest. Everyone has a right to be, and feel, safe while doing what they love. Gboyega had been asked to this festival to perform as a poet.

“With this news, we hope it will give us the space and the insight to move to the next stage of healing for his friends, family and community.”

Paying tribute to her friend, she said: “He was inimitable. We will treasure his loud laughter, calm measuredness, his sharp intellect and his love, all of which will continue to warm the hearts of his friends, family and writing community. In spite of the difficulties of this time, we look forward with pride and joy to the release of Gboyega’s much-anticipated debut poetry collection, Adam.

“In addition, the Gboyega Odubanjo Foundation, established in the wake of his passing, will provide a way for low-income black writers to be supported in their artistry and craft, continuing the legacy of Gboyega’s work as a dedicated mentor. We believe that if he had received adequate care, he would have still been alive.

“We will be working with our community to ensure that people are safer in circumstances such as this.”

Got a story for us? Email anna.willis@reachplc.com.

Get the biggest stories from around London straight to your inbox. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.