As well as the emergency services, supporters played a pivotal role in the rescue effort. Many tried to help those being crushed in the pens. Others, including some who had escaped from the pens themselves, sought to assist the injured. This included helping carry casualties to the gymnasium on advertising hoardings, which were used as makeshift stretchers.
Several off-duty medical professionals who were at the match as spectators also assisted, as did off-duty police officers. Like the other emergency services, they were hindered by a lack of information; there was no instruction for them to help, so they did whatever they could in response to the situation in front of them. When they tried to get information, police officers initially did not know where to send them and there was no specific organisation. Several assisted with resuscitation efforts on the pitch; others helped in the gymnasium or at the back of the West Stand. They were also hampered by a lack of medical equipment, both on the pitch and elsewhere.
In addition to resuscitation efforts, some were involved in the triage of casualties, to prioritise who should be taken to hospital and to provide direction to SJA volunteers and police officers. The arrangements for assessment and triage of casualties on the pitch were largely driven by the individual response of the medical personnel. Operation Resolve has found no evidence that a systematic approach was put in place or facilitated by those in the PCB, or senior police officers on the scene.
The third primary role undertaken by off-duty doctors was to certify the deaths of supporters. Some were directed to the gymnasium to assist with this. The situation in the gymnasium is examined in chapter 6.
