A longtime Coachella worker died in a fall while setting up for the festival

Invision/Amy Harris via Associated Press

A Coachella rigger who worked for the festival for 20 years died Saturday while setting up.
Goldenvoice, which hosts Coachella each year, said the man died in a fall. They did not identify him by name.
The man was "doing what he loved" and was "responsible for the countless incredible shows that have been put on at the festival," the statement said.
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A Coachella worker has died while setting up for the music and arts festival in the Southern California desert.

Goldenvoice, which puts Coachella in Indio each year, said in a statement the man was a lead rigger who died in a fall while working on a stage on festival grounds at the Empire Polo Club. The statement did not identify him by name but said he had been on the Coachella team for 20 years.

The six-day festival, spread over two long weekends, is scheduled to begin Friday.

The statement said all at Coachella are "grieving this loss." It said the worker was "doing what he loved."

"He was a hard-working and loving person that cared deeply about his team," the statement added. "As our lead rigger, he was responsible for the countless incredible shows that have been put on at the festival."

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a tweet that the man died after falling from a roof.

Eyewitnesses told TMZ that the man fell some 60 feet to the ground after climbing the stage scaffolding.

Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Janelle Monae are among numerous acts to take to the Coachella stages this year.