O2 Academy Brixton crush: Claims of not enough medical cover

Only fractional the recommended fig of aesculapian unit were connected work astatine the O2 Brixton Academy connected the nighttime of a crush astatine the south-west London venue.

Industry guidelines suggest determination should person been aesculapian screen of astatine slightest 10 people, including a paramedic and a nurse.

After 2 insiders approached the BBC, the aesculapian screen supplier confirmed lone 5 radical were moving erstwhile the crush happened successful December.

No paramedics oregon nurses were present.

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and information defender Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died successful infirmary pursuing the assemblage surge connected 15 December 2022, astatine the performance by Afrobeats creator Asake.

The aesculapian provider, Collingwood Services Ltd, said it was "fully confident" its squad had "responded speedily, efficiently and with champion practice".

We approached the venue operator, Academy Music Group (AMG), for comment. It said it was incapable to respond to circumstantial questions, citing the constabulary probe into what happened.

Two whistleblowers who regularly enactment for Collingwood Services Ltd astatine Brixton told BBC Radio 4's File connected 4 programme that aesculapian screen astatine the southbound London gig had been "inadequate".

Neither of them was determination erstwhile the crush happened, but 1 said helium had spoken to colleagues who were.

The insiders told america that of the 5 radical moving for Collingwood astatine the venue, nary had a paramedic qualification.

"[They] had 2 pupil paramedics, truthful they're fundamentally unqualified," said 1 whistleblower. "They person to beryllium supervised by a paramedic, not by anybody of a little grade. They didn't person due supervision."

To go a paramedic, you request to walk an approved Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) people - which often means studying for 3 years to grade level.

Two of the 3 others moving that night, accidental the insiders, were alleged "FREC 3s" - with a Level 3 certificate successful First Response Emergency Care. They would usually person done a five-day people to larn skills for aesculapian and trauma situations successful pre-hospital settings.

We approached Collingwood Services Ltd who confirmed determination had been 5 trained aesculapian unit successful attendance connected tract connected the evening of 15 December. It said 2 of those had been archetypal responders - which is simply a generic word which tin screen a assortment of competency levels.

The institution besides said determination were 2 third-year pupil paramedics - moving arsenic little people exigency aesculapian technicians (EMTs). The 5th person, said Collingwood, was besides an EMT.

EMT is besides a generic word which tin screen antithetic levels of competency successful some the NHS and backstage aesculapian sector. It is not a regulated qualification.

We asked the institution to further clarify what qualifications the 5 Brixton unit held, but it refused to accidental - stating simply that "all unit contiguous were qualified to transportation retired the scope of signifier they were contracted to perform."

It besides confirmed that "no subordinate of unit was contracted to supply paramedic level duties astatine the event."

In addition, Collingwood told america a further squad of 3 trained aesculapian unit arrived astatine the Academy by 23:00 and were successful attendance until 02:30.

Police person antecedently said they were called by venue unit astatine astir 21:30.

London Ambulance Service says it was asked to be astatine 22:06 - and that its unit treated 10 patients astatine the scene, 8 of whom were transferred to hospital.

If you person immoderate idiosyncratic acquisition of the issues raised by this investigation, delight email the File connected 4 squad astatine fileon4@bbc.co.uk

For a sold out, 5,000-strong assemblage gig astatine Brixton - specified arsenic the Asake amusement - industry-standard guidance suggests determination should person been astatine slightest 10 radical with aesculapian grooming connected duty.

That's treble the fig who were determination erstwhile the crush happened.

Concert organisers crossed the UK usage respective tools to enactment retired due staffing levels.

They are apt to look backmost to akin events to justice what unit mightiness beryllium needed. File connected 4 has antecedently reported that the Asake performance had been classed arsenic "high risk" by Academy relation AMG.

Organisers besides notation to elaborate documents drawn up by the events manufacture itself - notably the A-Guide, from the National Arenas Association, and the alleged Purple Guide.

The Purple Guide is based connected guidance formerly published by the Health and Safety Executive - and portion it was primitively drawn up for outdoor unrecorded events, it is present besides utilized arsenic a benchmark for indoor ones too.

The usher says events with betwixt 3,000 and 10,000 attendees should have:

The pursuing should besides beryllium considered:

These latest claims astir a deficiency of aesculapian screen travel conscionable weeks aft File connected 4 reported that determination mightiness not person been capable information guards moving connected the nighttime of the crush - and that immoderate guards took bribes to fto radical into the gig without tickets.

Both our whistleblowers said erstwhile concerts astatine the Brixton Academy - earlier the Asake gig - besides had not had capable Collingwood aesculapian unit connected duty.

"Very often they would conscionable archer you the other unit were moving late," 1 told us, "but they would ne'er crook up."

Collingwood besides provides aesculapian screen astatine different London venue tally by AMG - the O2 Academy Islington.

One of the insiders sent america photos, taken since the Brixton crush, of out-of-date aesculapian supplies which, helium said, helium had been expected to usage astatine Islington.

"I consciousness ashamed to beryllium moving for this organisation," helium said. "If we had a Brixton-style incidental astatine this venue [O2 Academy Islington] past I would not beryllium capable to run efficaciously and people's lives would beryllium astatine risk."

The whistleblowers told america they had some complained to Collingwood managers astir inadequate staffing levels and grooming - and aesculapian supplies being retired of date.

Collingwood Services Ltd did not remark connected those allegations erstwhile approached by the BBC.

In its statement, the institution said it had conducted its ain interior probe and was afloat assured that its squad had "responded speedily, efficiently and with champion practice" connected the nighttime of the Brixton crush.

"We judge powerfully that the swift enactment and accomplishment of aesculapian staff, exigency services and others who assisted... were instrumental successful avoiding further superior injuries oregon nonaccomplishment of life," it said.

"We are successful afloat enactment of the probe into the causes of the events of 15 December and invited immoderate outcomes of the ensuing study which would halt akin tragedies happening successful the future."