Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey dies

Credit: Eric Risberg

Credit: Eric Risberg

Larry Harvey, co-founder of the Burning Man festival, died Saturday. He was 70.

The cause of death was not released but Harvey suffered a stroke April 4, Marian Goodell, CEO of the Burning Man Project, said in a statement.

"We resolutely held out for a miracle. If there was anyone tenacious, strong-willed and stubborn enough to come back from this challenge, it was Larry," she said. "Burning Man culture has lost a great leader and an inspiring mind. He adeptly interpreted the manifestation of what became a movement."

Harvey created Burning Man on a San Francisco beach in 1986. Now, more than 70,000 people come from all over the world for the weeklong festival held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, which culminates by setting a towering wooden effigy on fire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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