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Hillsborough victim was directed back into pen after escaping, inquest hears Hillsborough victim was directed back into pen after escaping, inquest hears
(about 2 hours later)
One of the 96 people killed in the crush at Hillsborough in 1989 had escaped the Leppings Lane terrace pens because they were so overcrowded but was directed back into them by a steward, the new inquest into the disaster has heard.One of the 96 people killed in the crush at Hillsborough in 1989 had escaped the Leppings Lane terrace pens because they were so overcrowded but was directed back into them by a steward, the new inquest into the disaster has heard.
Peter Burkett, who was 24 at the time and worked at the Royal Life Insurance company, met a friend, Anthony Turner, in the tunnel leading to the central pens, and told him he was getting out because it was “murder in there”.Peter Burkett, who was 24 at the time and worked at the Royal Life Insurance company, met a friend, Anthony Turner, in the tunnel leading to the central pens, and told him he was getting out because it was “murder in there”.
Turner, giving evidence at the inquest, said Burkett told him he had already been separated from his friend Jonathon Owens because the overcrowding was so bad. They turned around, went back out of the tunnel, and on the concourse they asked a man wearing a fluorescent green steward’s jacket if there was a less crowded part of the terrace where they could watch the match.Turner, giving evidence at the inquest, said Burkett told him he had already been separated from his friend Jonathon Owens because the overcrowding was so bad. They turned around, went back out of the tunnel, and on the concourse they asked a man wearing a fluorescent green steward’s jacket if there was a less crowded part of the terrace where they could watch the match.
“He pointed back down the tunnel and said: ‘Just go in that way,’” Turner said.“He pointed back down the tunnel and said: ‘Just go in that way,’” Turner said.
He said they went back into the tunnel as directed, after the match had started at 3pm, and once inside pen 3 of the terrace they were trapped and immediately separated by the size and movement of the crowd.He said they went back into the tunnel as directed, after the match had started at 3pm, and once inside pen 3 of the terrace they were trapped and immediately separated by the size and movement of the crowd.
He said Burkett looked back, gave a half smile, shrugged as if he was going with the flow of the crowd, and said: “See you later.”He said Burkett looked back, gave a half smile, shrugged as if he was going with the flow of the crowd, and said: “See you later.”
Footage of pen 3, filmed by BBC cameras there to cover the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, showed Burkett among a pile of people trapped in the crush at the front of the pen at 3.19pm.Footage of pen 3, filmed by BBC cameras there to cover the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, showed Burkett among a pile of people trapped in the crush at the front of the pen at 3.19pm.
His friend Michael Robertson, giving evidence via videolink from Miami, said he had travelled to Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground on the morning of the match with Burkett and Owens, 18, and they had become separated soon after entering pen 3.His friend Michael Robertson, giving evidence via videolink from Miami, said he had travelled to Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground on the morning of the match with Burkett and Owens, 18, and they had become separated soon after entering pen 3.
The court heard graphic, harrowing evidence about the pen 3 crush when considering another of the 96 people who died, Colin Wafer, who was 19.The court heard graphic, harrowing evidence about the pen 3 crush when considering another of the 96 people who died, Colin Wafer, who was 19.
Steven McPherson Allen, a Liverpool supporter who was a serving officer in the Metropolitan police, was seen on film pulling Wafer by his feet out of a pile of bodies that was blocking an exit gate and preventing people from being rescued.Steven McPherson Allen, a Liverpool supporter who was a serving officer in the Metropolitan police, was seen on film pulling Wafer by his feet out of a pile of bodies that was blocking an exit gate and preventing people from being rescued.
“I remember a large amount of bodies in that area,” McPherson Allen told the court.“I remember a large amount of bodies in that area,” McPherson Allen told the court.
The BBC film showed a South Yorkshire police officer, Ch Supt John Nesbit, pushing McPherson Allen away after he had helped to pull Wafer out. McPherson Allen said he then went to try to help other people on the pitch.The BBC film showed a South Yorkshire police officer, Ch Supt John Nesbit, pushing McPherson Allen away after he had helped to pull Wafer out. McPherson Allen said he then went to try to help other people on the pitch.
In a statement given in 1989 which was read to the court, Andrew Eddison, a South Yorkshire police constable, described two piles of entangled and intertwined bodies near the exit gate in pen 3.In a statement given in 1989 which was read to the court, Andrew Eddison, a South Yorkshire police constable, described two piles of entangled and intertwined bodies near the exit gate in pen 3.
“They were all a pale grey colour with their mouths open – they were dead, some were twitching. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at,” Eddison said. “As I was pulling legs and moving the bodies up so they could be pulled out on to the pitch, I became aware of some pulling on the bottom of my trousers – somebody was still alive.”“They were all a pale grey colour with their mouths open – they were dead, some were twitching. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at,” Eddison said. “As I was pulling legs and moving the bodies up so they could be pulled out on to the pitch, I became aware of some pulling on the bottom of my trousers – somebody was still alive.”
Shortly after that, he said, the pulling on his trouser leg stopped. As the pile of bodies was gradually cleared following McPherson Allen’s intervention, Eddison said he saw that the body at the bottom was that of a young child, lying face down.Shortly after that, he said, the pulling on his trouser leg stopped. As the pile of bodies was gradually cleared following McPherson Allen’s intervention, Eddison said he saw that the body at the bottom was that of a young child, lying face down.
The inquest heard that two separate sets of police officers attempted to resuscitate Wafer, first close to the pens, then further up the pitch after he had been carried there by a group of supporters.The inquest heard that two separate sets of police officers attempted to resuscitate Wafer, first close to the pens, then further up the pitch after he had been carried there by a group of supporters.
One police constable, Jill Brooke, questioned by Brenda Campbell, representing the Wafer family, accepted that only 50 seconds elapsed in the time Brooke said she checked for signs of life and attempted resuscitation. The Sheffield Wednesday physiotherapist Alan Smith then checked for a carotid pulse in Wafer’s neck and told the officers that he was dead, Brooke said.One police constable, Jill Brooke, questioned by Brenda Campbell, representing the Wafer family, accepted that only 50 seconds elapsed in the time Brooke said she checked for signs of life and attempted resuscitation. The Sheffield Wednesday physiotherapist Alan Smith then checked for a carotid pulse in Wafer’s neck and told the officers that he was dead, Brooke said.
Both Burkett and Wafer were carried on advertising hoardings, used as makeshift stretchers, to the Hillsborough gymnasium where police were directing that dead bodies should be taken.Both Burkett and Wafer were carried on advertising hoardings, used as makeshift stretchers, to the Hillsborough gymnasium where police were directing that dead bodies should be taken.
No evidence was presented to the inquests that Peter Burkett had been examined for signs of life, or given first aid, after being dragged out of pen 3 by police officers, while being laid on the pitch or when he was taken to the gymnasium. One witness who helped to carry him on the hoarding, Carl Williams, a Liverpool supporter, told the inquests that Peter did not look dead at that time, compared to people Williams had seen in the pens who were clearly injured, purple and covered in vomit. “He looked asleep to me,” Williams said.
Robertson identified the bodies of his friends Burkett and Owens in the gymnasium at 1am. Ian Wafer identified his brother Colin’s body at 1.30am to a special police constable, Joseph Finnerty, who said he had stayed with Colin for “an awful lot of hours” from 3.40pm.Robertson identified the bodies of his friends Burkett and Owens in the gymnasium at 1am. Ian Wafer identified his brother Colin’s body at 1.30am to a special police constable, Joseph Finnerty, who said he had stayed with Colin for “an awful lot of hours” from 3.40pm.
Campbell, addressing Finnerty on behalf of Wafer’s parents, Jim and Rita, brother Ian and sister Lisa Davies, who were all in court, said: “They have often wanted to thank you over the years. They do so today, for everything you did and for being with Colin.”Campbell, addressing Finnerty on behalf of Wafer’s parents, Jim and Rita, brother Ian and sister Lisa Davies, who were all in court, said: “They have often wanted to thank you over the years. They do so today, for everything you did and for being with Colin.”
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.