Deaths at Sporting Events
Sport is littered with a history of extraordinary and unfortunate deaths of spectators at events. This occurs despite precautions put in place for spectator safety.
Whenever a large crowd gathers at any event, irrespective of whether it is sporting, music or cultural, there is a risk of 'crowd crush'. Some of sports worst ever tragedies have been caused by crowd crush. This phenomenon occurs when large numbers of people move hurriedly and uncontrollably. The situation is aggravated and very dangerous when crowd movement occurs in a size-restricted area such as a walkway, staircase, corridor and doorway. Usually something happens to make the crowd move hurriedly such as a fire, or some other life threatening event.
Deaths also occur at sporting events that are nothing to do with crowd movement. Some of these instances are most extra-ordinary and bizarre as the list below indicates.
Large scale spectator tragedy
The following examples are just some of the very many occurrences of death by crowd crush:
- Lima, Peru, 1964 - more than 300 people died and 500 injured as a result of a RIOT that resulted from an unpopular referee decision at a Football (Soccer) match. This remains the worst ever sporting disaster in sport
- Glasgow, Scotland, 1971- 66 people died at a football (soccer) match when a late goal caused fans leaving the stadium to suddenly RUSH back in
- Bradford, England, 1985 - 56 people BURNED to death in a football stadium
- Sheffield, England, 1989 - 96 people CRUSHED to death as a result of OVERCROWDING and pressure of spectators forcing their way into the terraces in a particular part of the stadium. Spectators at the front of the terrace were crushed up against a fence, and some died even while standing up.
- Nalchik, Russia. 1998 - 22 people killed as BALCONY GIVES WAY holding more than 100 people, mostly children, and crushes people below. The event was a Russian National Freestyle Competition.
- Johannesburg, South Africa, 2001- 43 people crushed to death during a crowd STAMPEDE in which spectators were rushing to get seats
Individual spectator death
The following examples indicate there are many freakish ways to die at an event (which is supposed to be a fun day out!):
- Cardiff, Wales, 1993 - A spectator was killed after being struck in the neck by a FLARE that was fired across the pitch
- Spearman, USA, 1996 - A woman was killed in the spectator crowd after being landed on by a PARACHUTIST who was delivering the ball for a high school football game.
- Columbus, USA, 2002 - a 13 year old girl spectator was killed after being struck in the head by a HOCKEY PUCK that was accidentally struck into the crowd.
- Arlington, Texas 2011 - a man FALLS to his death from a 2nd level tier while trying to catch a baseball. The accident is witnessed by his young son.
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