Three hurt in T20 crowd as hole opens in stands
STAND PASSED INSPECTION WEEK BEFORE ENGLAND TOOK 0N WINDIES
THREE spectators were injured after a hole appeared in the stands at an international cricket match in Durham.
Pictures on social media showed part of the floor had collapsed as fans watched the T20 cricket match between England and the West Indies at the Emirates Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street on Saturday evening.
Stewards and police were seen evacuating spectators from the affected area as a precautionary measure.
The stand was said to have passed inspections in the week before the match.
Durham County Cricket Club later confirmed that three spectators were injured during the course of the second innings after falling on unstable flooring in the North-East Terrace.
The North East Ambulance service responded to a 999 call from the ground and took one of the three injured fans to the RVI Hospital in Newcastle.
Twitter user @ChristianCeriso posted an image of two stewards standing guard either side of what appeared to be an opening directly beneath a seat.
Fans from the entire block were ushered away from the area and guided to other parts of the ground.
A club statement read: “During the course of the second innings between England v West Indies at Emirates Riverside, three spectators were injured when a small section of the North-East Terrace flooring became unstable, causing them to fall.
“Stewards took precautionary action and evacuated that area of the stand efficiently. The stand is a permanent fixture at the venue and had passed inspections in the week prior to the match.”
Windies captain Carlos Brathwaite said after the match that some of his players felt conditions on the pitch were “unsafe” and were prepared to take an abandonment after wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton slipped while fielding, needing lengthy treatment.
The West Indies won the match by 21 runs.