Alexander Lewis was attending Rothbury, Michigan music festival Electric Forest for the first time this year.
A man who attended the 2024 edition of Electric Forest has died, according to the festival’s organizers.
In an email to EDM Identity, Electric Forest’s spokesperson confirmed that a man attending the four-day festival in Rothbury, Michigan, was transported to a local hospital at approximately 12:10am. He passed away while being treated roughly a day later. No cause of death has been given at the time of writing.
On social media, friends of the man identified him as Alexander Lewis, who traveled to Rothbury from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Lewis’ brother, Ramses Maldonado, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs associated with transporting his body back to where his family lives in Philadelphia. Its target was set to $10,000, and it currently sits at over $12,000.
The campaign description says that Lewis “touched the hearts and souls of many individuals” and attributes his passing to “an unexpected event that occurred while on vacation in Michigan.” It continues, “We, his family, are trying to bring Lex’s body home so we all can say our last goodbyes. We are asking for assistance to make this happen.”
Lewis’ friend Seth Wade, who has been helping with fundraising efforts, told EDM Identity that transportation estimates currently range from $15-25,000. Cremation is not an option for religious reasons, he said.
Wade met Lewis at the 2021 edition of HiJinx Festival, and the two became fast friends. Wade said that Lewis “lit up the room every time he walked in” and “was like a kid at Christmas” as he got ready to attend Electric Forest for the first time this year.
Lewis’ roommate and best friend Jose Portes Jr. shared a touching tribute on Facebook. “I’ll never forget the long nights of video games, all the times you pushed me to be better, all the times you got me out of my ruts,” he wrote.
An article published by the Oceana County Press says that the Michigan State Police reported “no major incidents” in connection with Electric Forest this past weekend. It is unclear why Lewis’ passing wasn’t mentioned alongside the 73 lesser incidents like drug possession, vehicle crashes, and petty theft.
Electric Forest has taken place annually since 2008, striking a balance between electronic music, jam bands, and more mainstream entertainment. Inclement weather overshadowed this year’s edition of the festival, forcing organizers to cut two nights of programming short.
We here at EDM Identity express our sincere condolences to the friends and loved ones of Alexander Lewis during what can only be a difficult time.
