Survivor Reflects on the Heysel Stadium Disaster: A Harrowing Experience of Individual Struggle

On the 40th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy, a survivor has bravely shared his recollection of that fateful day when 39 lives were lost due to a wall collapse during the European Cup Final match between Juventus and Liverpool in Belgium.

Among those who perished was Patrick Radcliffe from Belfast.

Roughly an hour before kick-off, tensions escalated between the rival supporters.

A small group of Liverpool fans hurled stones and flares at the Juventus supporters. In a desperate bid to escape, the Juventus fans were tragically crushed against a wall that ultimately collapsed. “The crowd panicked, as you could expect,” reflected Michael Hamell, who was present in what was labeled the “neutral” section of the stadium on May 29, 1985.

In an interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr. Hamell described the atmosphere in the stands before chaos ensued. “At first, it was harmless stuff being thrown—apples, bananas, and tomatoes,” he recalled. “But as the mood shifted, rocks and bottles began to fly.” This escalation sparked a sense of dread among the crowd.

“I remember the poles that had the colors of Liverpool Football Club on them just moments before,” he said, as he witnessed some fans breach the wire meshing. Suddenly, the energy shifted from a lively match day to sheer panic. “There were middle-aged individuals, older fans, and families with their children present,” he lamented.

Mr. Hamell noted that the majority of the destruction stemmed from the overwhelming pressure of the crowd surging downward. “I was about halfway up the terrace, and very quickly it became every man for himself,” he recounted. Attempting to maintain his position, he was soon engulfed in a chaotic wave of bodies, describing it as “literally like an avalanche.”

With remarkable instinct, Mr. Hamell managed to squirm under a crowd barrier. “When I fell, five or six people landed on top of me,” he said. “But I got my hands and arms up and held my ground beneath the barrier, and that’s certainly what saved me.” After several minutes of distress, he felt the pressure begin to dissipate. “I was bruised and battered but not seriously hurt,” he added. However, the haunting image of those beside him who did not get up lingers in his memory. “That’s a moment that will stay with me.”

Once the Red Cross arrived, they helped Mr. Hamell onto the pitch, allowing him a moment of respite. “As I reached the far end, I looked back only to see the pitch cleared and the two teams preparing to play,” he noted. “It was a surreal juxtaposition—a match proceeding amidst such tragedy.” He expressed his sorrow, stating, “My whole memory is of the absurdity of violence at a football match, resulting in irreparable harm to so many.”

Unlike other tragic incidents in football history, Mr. Hamell feels that the Heysel disaster does not receive the attention it deserves. “I always sensed a tendency in parts of the British press to shift blame elsewhere,” he said. “But from my perspective, no one provoked this chaos. The narrative that it was merely a mistake is unfortunately part of the problem.” In the aftermath, several Liverpool fans were ultimately convicted of manslaughter, while Juventus emerged victorious in the match with a score of 1-0, despite the loss of life earlier that day.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.