AN INVESTIGATION has been launched following the death of a man who attended a music and beer festival which one resident labelled “an accident waiting to happen”.

Scott Dunn Calder, from Edinburgh, was found unconscious on the beach near Longniddry Bents car park No 1 by a member of the public at about 7.45am on Sunday and later died.

Questions have been asked about the organisation of the event, held at nearby Gosford House on Saturday evening, with one Aberlady resident reporting people “stumbling” along the road. A local ward councillor has also stated that “things clearly went wrong”.

Organisers say transport was laid on to take revellers home.

Inquiries into Mr Calder’s death are continuing. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

In a statement released by Police Scotland, Mr Calder’s family paid tribute to the 23-year-old. They said: “The shock and profound loss that we are feeling at this time cannot be put into words.

“Scott was a beloved son, a loving boyfriend and a wonderful friend to all who knew him.

“He had just achieved his masters degree from Edinburgh Napier University and had his whole life ahead of him.

“Every day he made us proud and we are devastated beyond belief that he is gone. As a family we will try to support one another through this most difficult of times and ask that our privacy be respected while we grieve.”

Detective Inspector Paul Batten said: “Our deepest sympathies are with Scott’s family and we will provide them with all the necessary support and assistance they may require.

“Our inquiries continue to confirm all of Scott’s movements after leaving the Oktoberfest event and anyone with any relevant information is asked to come forward.”

The Hot Dub Stein Machine Oktoberfest – attended by hundreds of people – featured live music, food, DJs and various German beers.

However, following the event, concerns have been expressed regarding how people were leaving the site.

One resident told the Courier: “There were at least 200-plus paralytic teenagers stumbling around. . . some were in the middle of the road.

“The pedestrians were staggering about at the side of the road in real danger of stumbling into the traffic on the road, as there is no street lighting or pavement all the way along the coast road.

“Even more alarming was there was a large number of participants travelling along the coastal path where it was pitch black and the path is very uneven, and at one stretch, where the path narrows next to Gosford, there is a five-foot sheer drop off the edge of the coastal defences.

“My friends and I were horrified and said it was an accident waiting to happen.

“I think the organisers, the body who granted the licence and whoever did the risk assessment for the event really should be ashamed.”

The resident added: “No one should ever have been allowed to leave by the main gate into such a dangerous situation in such a delicate state.”

Councillor Lachlan Bruce, Preston Seton Gosford ward member, was also concerned about how the event had unfolded.

He told the Courier: “Anytime someone that young loses their life it is a tragedy and the thoughts of everyone in the community are with the young man’s family at this time.

“Serious questions need to be asked of the organisers of the Oktoberfest event about why people were walking back towards Edinburgh along the coast road in the dark. Anyone that knows the road knows that is not safe.

“Things clearly went wrong with organisation of the event and we need to know why so that nothing like this can ever happen again.”

A spokesperson for the Oktoberfest event said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a young man.

“We are currently assisting the police to help in any way we can.”

The spokesperson added: “Starting at 8pm, 60 shuttle buses ferried attendees from the main entrance back to Edinburgh via Longniddry – providing a capacity of approximately 5,000 passenger seats.

“Before and during the event, people were strongly advised, for safety reasons, to use either the shuttle bus service or additional on-site car and taxi pick-up points which were managed by security stewards and traffic personnel, with assistance from the police.”

An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts are with Scott Dunn Calder’s family at this difficult time and we will support any ongoing investigation.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Whenever permission is sought from the local authority to hold an event, the event organiser must demonstrate the ability to meet a number of criteria, including traffic management.

“Officers in attendance for any event can provide additional support if it is required and will subsequently liaise with organisers thereafter to address any learning outcomes.

“As is standard procedure, we will engage with the event organisers for Oktoberfest to highlight any issues that have been identified.”