The initial rescue effort
- Several of those who were closest to the perimeter gates have described how the combination of the crowd pressure, the narrow gates and the general level of panic slowed their ability to free supporters.
- PS Swift recalled that Gate 4 only opened 90 degrees to form a right angle to the fence. He said that as a result “only two Officers of [sic] a time could efficiently work at pulling people free by approaching from the front and the left hand side. In our obvious frantic efforts to assist we were inevitably getting in each other's way.”
- Police Constable Adrian Taylor at Gate 3 had similar issues: “The gate was so narrow, with the gate opening outwards onto the field, it prevented assistance from the right and a lean to support on the left gate pillar prevented assistance from the left of the gate. Three officers or supporters could only enter the gateway at one time to pull because of the tight space.”
- He also highlighted further challenges: “The step up from the centre south enclosure caused people to trip over, falling to the ground, then on top of each other. The gate became eight deep in fallen people, so tightly packed that they could not be pulled free. As one supporter was pulled free your momentum followed the supporter back onto the field, other supporters and officers then took your place at the gate pulling.”
- Police Constable Martin Cooper was also at Gate 3, and he recalled that a further problem occurred if a supporter became stuck in the gateway for any reason. As some were unconscious, this happened on a few occasions.
- At first, injured supporters were carried onto the pitch where officers, SJA volunteers and SYMAS staff—as well as fellow supporters—attempted to provide first aid or resuscitate them. This became a chaotic scene, with many people present and little organisation, as can be seen in figure 5H.
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Figure 5H: The scene in front of the West Terrace, 15:07:04 (Source: SYP)