A couple at the Download Festival in Donington Park, Leicestershire, engaged in explicit behavior on a ferris wheel ride as tens of thousands of attendees awaited the headline performance of Guns N’ Roses on Saturday evening. The incident unfolded in clear view of the festival crowd, drawing significant attention and prompting police to open an investigation.

According to eyewitness accounts, the pair initially appeared to be embracing inside the transparent ferris wheel pod, but as the wheel rotated and descended, onlookers realized the interaction was more explicit. Video footage circulated on social media showed the woman crouching on her knees in the pod while the man stood behind her, engaging in sexually suggestive movements. The scene reportedly elicited cheers and laughter from spectators below.

A witness, who regularly attends the festival, described the moment as unprecedented, noting the timing of the incident occurred during one of the busiest periods just before the set by Guns N’ Roses. “It sort of brought everyone together in a weird way,” the witness said, reflecting on the crowd’s reaction once the activity was widely noticed and recorded. The witness also speculated that the couple might have mistakenly assumed the glass pods were tinted, noting the surface was actually clear and fully exposed the pair’s actions.

Further details emerged indicating the woman involved was accompanied at the festival by another partner, who was not the man seen with her on the ferris wheel. The source suggested that the woman had met the man during the event and that her boyfriend, upon learning of the incident, was reportedly distressed.

Leicestershire Police confirmed they are investigating the matter after videos of the episode circulated online. Authorities are collaborating with festival organizers to identify the individuals involved. “Enquiries in relation to this are ongoing,” a police spokesperson stated.

Download Festival, recognized as the largest rock and metal music event in the UK, attracted an estimated crowd of 95,000 this year. In addition to Guns N’ Roses, headliners included Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, marking the first time in the festival’s 23-year history that a band with a female singer played a headline slot. Actor Keanu Reeves also appeared as part of his band Dogstar during the event.