Nearly 100 Concertgoers Injured As Freak Hailstorm Tears Through Louis Tomlinson Red Rocks Show

A freak hailstorm struck Morrison, Colorado, the home of the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, at former One Direction member and solo artist Louis Tomlinson’s concert on Thursday (22 June).

The concert was postponed at 10:30 pm – after two delays – due to the hailstorm, which resulted in hail the size of tennis balls raining down on punters, Consequence Of Sound reports.

Nearly 100 fans were injured, seven were hospitalised with no life-threatening injuries, and 80-90 people were treated with minor injuries at the venue. 

Some of the injuries sustained include broken bones, welts and bruises. To add to the injury list, other punters were stranded at the venue as their vehicles sustained hail damage, Fox 31 Denver reports.

Responding to the show’s postponement, Tomlinson wrote on Twitter, “Devastated about the show tonight, hope everyone’s ok, I’ll be back! Even though we didn’t play the show I felt all of your passion! Sending you all love!”

A concertgoer speaking to Fox 31 Denver described some hail as the size of golf balls and reported several people were covered in welts and bruises.

“We were on the lower end by the north ramp entrance by a beverage cart; me and my sister had to corner ourselves into a wall with boxes above us from the recycle over our heads to protect us,” Tomlinson fan Mollie told Fox 31 Denver. “A few big ones welted us pretty good.”

Rolling Stone states that Red Rocks staff reportedly issued a five-minute warning to take shelter before the hailstorm arrived.

West Metro Fire Rescue shared that they were at the scene and wrote on Twitter: “Red Rocks hail storm- 7 people transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. A total of 80 to 90 people were treated on scene. Injuries include cuts and broken bones. Sporadic hail still coming down in Morrison area.”

Louis Tomlinson returned to Australia last year after his originally planned tour, slated for 2020, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking on his hit single We Made It back when the Australian dates were first announced, Tomlinson said:

“The chorus of We Made It is also about me and the fans. Between us, it has taken a lot to get here. I’ve had to work really hard, had to learn about so much about myself. 

“I feel as though only when I get out to tour, to sing these songs directly to the fans, will I have cemented the start of my solo career.”

A freak hailstorm and flash flood hit Red Rocks tonight with golf ball sized hail while I was photographing the Louis T show. HUGE shoutout needs to go to the staff and medical teams at Red Rocks who were helping the injured as well as helping the fans be as safe as they could. pic.twitter.com/hN37VoL5W7

— Nikolai Puc (@NikolaiPuc) June 22, 2023

hail at red rocks for Louis Tomlinson pic.twitter.com/PHQ7RhS9o3

— Kristen 🦋☁️ (@KristenBarth) June 22, 2023