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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred

Security guard at Brixton O2 Academy concert becomes second to die after crush tragedy

A second person has died following the incident at the O2 Academy in South London last week.

Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died in hospital in the early hours of this morning, police said.

He was working as one of the contracted security providers for the Asake concert.

Many had turned up to see Afrobeats artist Asake, and he had only performed a few songs before they were forced to end the show after thousands were outside the venue reportedly trying to get in.

Rebecca Ikumelo was recently named as the first woman who died during the incident while a third woman, 21, remains in critical condition in the hospital.

Police raced to the O2 Academy in Brixton, South London on Thursday following reports of crowd trouble just before 10pm.

Four people were initially taken to the hospital in critical condition, and by Friday three had remained.

One concertgoer told the Mirror she thought she was "going to die" after attending the show.

Pearl Adewale says she "panicked" after losing her friends as crowds began screaming and running “for their lives” at the Brixton O2 Academy venue in South London on December 15.

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, who died following a crowd crush outside an Asake concert at the O2 Academy Brixton (PA)
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, is one of two who have died since the incident on Thursday (PA)

Speaking to the Mirror, she said: “I thought I was literally gonna die.

“It was honestly the most traumatic thing in my life. I was standing near the front, so about four rows from the front row."

The O2 Academy Brixton on the morning after the Asake show (Zuma Press/PA Images)

Pearl says she and her friends waited around for a few minutes hoping that Asake would return to the stage. But shortly after, things took a turn for the worst.

“Five minutes after [they announced], everybody just started running for their lives," she said.

“I initially thought someone was shooting. I was in a panic.

It is unclear how the crowd trouble happened (AFP via Getty Images)

“My heart started racing. I thought I would die honestly and that I had no control over the situation.

“I couldn't see a way of even getting out. I was holding onto my friend because we were all running and scattering and she let go of me.

“I wanted to cry at that moment because I didn't recognise anyone around me. I was trying to find my friends. I lost my friends and screaming like, ‘what's going on?’"

Distressing footage that was shared online shows a large crowd outside the venue as one clip also showed a police officer push a woman down some stairs.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, policing commander for Lambeth and Southwark, said: “It is devastating news that a second person has lost their life following the events on Thursday."

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force are still trying to establish what happened on Thursday night.

Officers are reviewing CCTV, phone footage, speaking to witnesses and conducting forensic examinations.

Police have set up an online page for the submission of photos, videos and information has been set up and we would ask anyone with such material to use this facility.

The police cordons outside the venue have been removed, but cordons remain in place inside the building while officers continue to examine the scene.

Police also said they have made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is standard national practice following all incidents where police have been in attendance and members of the public have died or been seriously injured.

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