Costner in stage collapse tragedy

Rex Features

One person was killed and 75 others injured when a stage collapsed just moments before Kevin Costner was to perform at an event in Canada.

A sudden storm swept through the Big Valley Jamboree country music festival, causing the stage accident.

Police said: "A severe weather system moved through Camrose consisting of high winds and heavy rains. The concert... was delayed and the concert bowl was being cleared when a small portion of the main stage collapsed."

Costner, who was meant to be performing next, escaped uninjured and later went to the hospital to comfort the injured.

Organisers told CBC that they were "deeply saddened" by the accident, explaining that the storm came in too quickly for them to act.

The music event is the biggest country festival in Canada, attracting between 15,000 and 20,000 concert-goers each night. It was scheduled to close last night.