Student dies in crush horror
Nightclub barrier collapses after queue surges
A STUDENT at a top university was crushed to death beneath a metal barrier as she queued to get in to a packed nightclub.
Olivia Burt, 20, was in a crowd near the entrance of the venue – which was serving half-price drinks all night – when ‘pushing’ from the back toppled a heavy barricade.
Witnesses said the first year Durham University student was stuck underneath while other revellers piled on top. Students and doormen rushed to help the former grammar school head girl as she lay bleeding.
But despite their attempts she died at the scene. A post-mortem examination confirmed the undergraduate had suffered catastrophic head injuries.
Miss Burt, who had an ‘outstanding’ academic record, was only months into her natural sciences course at university. Described as an ‘exceptional sportswoman’, the accomplished sailor from Milford on Sea, Hampshire, had com- peted with the British sailing team in Europe.
The incident happened at 11.50pm on Wednesday outside the Missoula nightspot in the city. The club boasts of hosting Durham’s ‘biggest student night’ with cheap alcohol all night.
However, the venue is understood to have been full with 600 revellers and those queuing to get in had to wait for others inside to leave first.
Witnesses criticised the lack of crowd control, which was said to be a regular problem. Accounts differed over how many doormen were on duty.
One witness said: ‘People were barging to get in. The queue went all the way around the club and as they pushed to get in it caused the [barrier] to fall over. The girl was trapped under [it] and crushed. There was a fair bit of panic.’
A doorman is said to have used his shirt to stem the bleeding from Miss Burt’s head as she lay unconscious.
Others helped to give emergency first aid until paramedics arrived but she died at the scene. Another witness, who gave her name as Rosie, said Miss Burt was among a group who were ‘pushed over’ when the barrier toppled.
‘I got them to cushion her head with my jumper and then the only bouncer present just drags me away.
‘The crowd control was poor and unfortunately a girl lost her life because of it.’
Another student said: ‘They stopped people from coming in because it was so busy inside, but the people at the back didn’t know and kept pushing and one of the barriers fell. The girl was stuck under it and people just piled up on top of her.
‘My friend was pulling people off her but there were too many... he knew she was not going to make it out alive.’ A student called Jack said that before the accident revellers waiting outside had tried to warn doormen that someone was going to get hurt. Many of those who saw the tragedy were left traumatised.
A student who gave her name as Emily said: ‘Many people were sobbing, and everyone was hugging each other and making sure their friends were okay.
‘The friends of the victim were making their way to the scene – one girl was running to Missoula in hysterics and just screaming “no”.’
Miss Burt was head girl at Bournemouth School for Girls, a grammar academy. She has been a keen sailor for a number of years, using the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
Professor David Held, Master of University College, Durham, said: ‘She came to Durham with glowing references from her school where she was regarded in the highest possible terms. She had an outstanding academic record and was an exceptional sportswoman. She was part of the British Sailing team in the European Championships.
‘Olivia sailed for more than a decade, quickly finding her place in the university team. She became very active both in college life and the wider university.
‘Those students close to her have lost a wonderful friend, whom in their shock they grieve for, alongside her family and friends.’
Durham Police said a joint investigation had been launched with officials from the county council.
Phoenix Security, which provides doormen for the venue, declined to comment. Missoula opened in 2016 following the £385,000 revamp of a former pub.
A spokesman for the nightspot said a full investigation was underway, adding: Until that is concluded we are unable to comment further.’
‘Poor crowd control’ ‘Exceptional sportswoman’