Mosh pits at Download Festival have triggered hundreds of accidental 999 calls after smartwatches mistook head-banging for crash victims. The devices automatically contact emergency services when they detect violent movements in "the pit".
Leicestershire Police said false alarms increase emergency calls by 700 during festival weekend - more than doubling the usual 600. Officers said that body-worn devices assume wearers have been in a collision when they detect sudden impacts.
Police have now issued a warning urging festival-goers to put smartwatches into airplane mode before entering mosh pits. The force said the surge places a "huge burden" on call handlers and takes resources from genuine emergencies.
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More than 75,000 fans are expected at Donington Park this weekend for the festival headlined by Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn. Police are preparing for the annual call surge.
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson told SWNS: "In previous years, we saw a rise of nearly 700 extra 999 calls in a weekend. The tech assumed people in mosh pits had been in a collision, causing abandoned calls that had to be assessed.
"Help us by answering callbacks from hidden numbers to confirm you're safe. We recommend switching on airplane mode or disabling emergency alerts on wearable tech."
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