I thought I’d die in music crush
Mum’s horror as 8 hurt in gig crowd surge
A MUM has told how she thought she was going to die in a crowd crush that left eight people in hospital and three fighting for life.
The woman was queueing to see Nigerian afrobeat singer Asake when people behind her surged forward.
She found herself being “kicked around like a football” and blacked out fearing she had “taken her last breath”.
The Met has now launched an urgent investigation into the incident in the foyer of O2 Academy in Brixton, South London, on Thursday night.
The crush happened after a large number tried to force their way in.
Social media footage showed people screaming, shouting and struggling.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “The crowd was insane. I fell down, they were stepping on my head. I couldn’t breathe.
“A woman next to me was in a very bad way. A security guard was injured and a pregnant woman outside
[was] being resuscitated. I thought I’d taken my last breath. I had more than 10 people on top of me. A man pulled me out. I woke up in an ambulance.”
John, 32, who lives next to the O2 and declined to give his surname, said: “It looked like the gig had been cancelled, then some commotion and the police came. That’s when it kicked off.
“People at the front were really pushing and shoving and trying to break through the door and force their way in.”
Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said: “Ticketing and security procedures have not performed as they should have. We need answers.”
Met Chief Supt Colin Wingrove said one person had been arrested and an incident in which an officer “is apparently seen to push a member of the public” is being investigated.
Asake, 27, real name Ahmed Ololade, said on Instagram: “My heart is with those injured.” He was recently nominated for BBC Radio 1’s
Sound of 2023 award.