It has been over 30 years since the worst incident in UK sporting history, the Hillsborough Disaster,
During an football match between and Nottingham Forest, held at Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground, tragedy ensued because of overcrowding, causing fans to die in a crush.
But when did the tragedy occur and how many people lost their lives?
Here is everything you need to know.
When was the Hillsborough Disaster?
The disaster took place on April 15, 1989 – so today marks 33 years since the incident.
It is believed that an exit gate was opened to relieve crowds outside the turnstiles, which allowed over 2,500 fans to enter the stadium.
This effectively overcrowded the already full central pens and caused fans to be crushed.
Horrific images from the day show the severity of the issue as people are pressed up against metal gates and hanging off the stadium’s walls and falling to the seating area below.
What followed was a more than 30-year-long campaign by victims and their families to seek justice and an explanation for how the tragedy could have occurred.
Match commander was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter at a retrial in November 2019, after the jury in his first trial was unable to reach a verdict.
During the time of the trial, jury members were told it was due to his ‘extraordinarily bad failings’ that 96 spectators were crushed in the .
However, Benjamin Myers QC, who said he was being ‘singled out unfairly’.
However, the jury did manage to reach a majority verdict against , then secretary and safety officer for the Sheffield Wednesday club. He was accused and found guilty of not taking reasonable care for the safety of Liverpool supporters, as he had only allocated seven turnstiles for 10,100 people.
How many people died?
Ninety-four people died on the day, with the other victims dying after the event – with the .
A coroner has ruled he was unlawfully Ki**ed as a result of the disaster, making him the 97th victim.
While 97 people have lost their lives as a result of the tragedy, 766 people were also injured.
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