'Something bad was going to happen'

Organisers were expecting around 5,000 but more than 20,000 people turned up for the concert. Photo: Leasa Purcell

Around 60 people have been injured during a crowd surge at Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on.

More than 20,000 people turned out for the event at Millennium Point, which had been due to feature acts including JLS and the Sugababes.

Hundreds of people who attended the event have e-mailed the BBC to share their experiences. Here are some of the comments we've received.

Scores hurt in lights switch-on

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YOUR COMMENTS

I was there. I am only 15 and decided to go with my friend. When we got there everything was okay until we got near the front. All of a sudden we just started getting pushed and shoved. I told everyone to stop pushing because there were young children nearby who were crying. Suddenly the gates flew down and people were going mad.
Daniie, Billesley, Birmingham

How on earth can they only have expected 5,000 people? I joined the event on Facebook which said it has 13,228 people attending. I was near the front and it was a terrible experience!
Josh, Lichfield

We were both so excited about the line-up and had such a good day planned. When we got there people were pushing and shoving their way down to the venue. Everyone was saying it was full and the policemen had put fences up, but no-one listened and we saw people push the fence down. Hundreds ran towards the Millennium Point when JLS were performing. People were throwing umbrellas and glass bottles at others, it was horrifying! We couldn't believe what we heard when they announced it was cancelled. We thought it was a joke. People were booing and we got out of there as soon as we could. The organisation of this event was completely terrible!
Ellie and Lydia, Halesowen, West Midlands

I was around 10 metres from the barrier when it collapsed. It was tight enough, but then a surge of yells and pushing came from behind. There was a mother with her three kids crying their eyes out pushing me from behind. I nearly fell over. I daren't think what would happen if I did. I was so thankful when it was cancelled and I could get out of there.
Anthony Wood, Birmingham

I was there and got really annoyed when people started shouting at me and my friend for pushing even though it was the thousands behind us. My friend was injured when the barrier fell and had a few high heel kicks to the head and I had some on my hands. My friend was later taken to hospital where we queued for four hours, some of the other casualties were from the same event. All is okay now though.
Natalie, Walsall

There were reports of 30-40,000 expected before the event, and there was obviously not enough provision for this amount of people. Had extra speakers and screens been put up around the area then many people would have been content, and not wanted to push through.
Erin , Birmingham

We were near the railings and were screaming at people to move back but they just carried on pushing. The security were trying to keep up the barriers but the crowd just forced them down and we all went down like dominos. My other friend and I were just lying on the floor screaming and getting trodden on. Eventually we got up and had to go back 15 minutes later to find my shoes which I had lost during the crush. Afterwards we were all crying and in pain. My ribs really hurt from when we were trampled. The event was so badly organised. We all knew it would be packed because of JLS, so why didn't the police know that? Next year people should buy tickets if they want to go.
Grace Ingram, Birmingham

My daughter and I intended to go to the concert but as we approached Millennium Point along with hundreds of others a lone policeman told us there was overcrowding and to turn back. Most people ignored him and carried on. There was very little being done to keep the crowds back. With such a strong line-up of acts surely it must have been blindingly obvious that there would be a huge turnout with serious safety implications. A simple ticketing operation (whether free or not) on a first come first served basis would have prevented what could potentially have been a massive disaster.
Janet Hylton, Sutton Coldfield

Send us your comments

This whole event was an absolute shambles. Did the organisers not think how popular the combination of acts were and how many people from miles away were likely to turn up? Obviously not. We were there from 1300 and found a quiet spot away from the overspill. We stood at the bottom of the slope against the barriers and had a good view of the stage. Suddenly, loads of people started to fill up behind us, all eager to get a glimpse of the stage. We left as we could see the danger unfolding - the fences were not adequate, the amount of police and security was an absolute joke. I cannot believe in this day and age that these things are allowed to happen!
Melanie, Birmingham

I was at the event today and witnessed the sheer carnage that was caused. It seemed that there was a complete lack of control by the event staff and the police. The action that was taken was definitely too little too late. At the beginning of the event it was clear to see that something bad was going to happen. When the crowd was asked to move back they didn't comply, eventually resulting with the minimal amount of event staff having to force everyone back. But within no more than ten seconds of JLS coming onto the stage the crowd then surged forward again crushing people in every direction.
Sarah, Coventry

We decided to leave just before it kicked off because it was obvious it was going bad. The crowd was told to move back multiple times, but still no one moved. Everyone was being crushed and trampled on and a lot of people were angry and hurt. Police and security were easily outnumbered and everyone knew it and took advantage. This day turned out to be horrific and a disappointment but it could have got a lot worse.
Ross, Brownhills

I have never felt so afraid, we were totally surrounded by thousands of hysterical people pushing and totally out of control. There were very few police. A terrible event, which I thank God we got out of safely. I cannot believe an event like this could get so out of control. I will learn to never take my daughter and friends to an event like this again."
Cathy, Worcestershire

I was at the concert and everyone started throwing glass bottles, plastic bottles, metal bottles and umbrellas. A plastic bottle hit me on the head so we decided to go. We were at the back of the crowd when it was announced that the concert was cancelled. We didn't know about all the other things that were going on until ten minutes later. It was a struggle to get through the gate.
Claire, Staffordshire

My 13 year son left at 0900 this morning to go to event with his friend and their family but with all the chaos changed his mind and came back at about 1pm. He already has his arm in a cast with fractured elbow, I'd dread to think what would of happened to him had he stayed. How could they only expect 5,000 people to turn up when there was such a great line-up?
Sharon Walker

I took my 14-year-old daughter. People were throwing full pop bottles and deliberately surging for no reason. We were pushed forward many times. Nowhere near enough security staff were there and no-one was pulled out for their behaviour. That said, if there were 27,000 people there. I would estimate about 100 to 150 behaved like this.
Barbara, Birmingham

There was some seriously poor organisation. People are always selfish at these events, pushing their way to the front. You expect it. I was with my 13 year old daughter trying to see JLS but there were just too many people and I felt concerned. We were lucky enough to be able to make our way back out of the crowd. The organisation was really terrible.
Anonymous, Birmingham

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