Hillsborough ... Through my eyes

[LeTallecWiz]

I became a fan in the mid 80s ... I didn't watch a game, or even highlights of a game, till the early 90s I think.

My dad - who wasn't, and isn't a footy fan - remembers Hillsborough ... I didn't know of the tragedy until much later on ... I think the first time I heard of it was on KopTalk.

I just spent two hours last night watching ESPN's documentary. I've watched a few, but this one upset me more than others. It reminded me of Woland sharing the picture where he sees himself, and a mate, in a picture for the first time since the disaster. When I came to bed, I woke my wife up and I just told her, "How can footy fans go to a game and not come back?" I just kept on repeating that non-stop ... Hearing the testimonies of mothers, father - and then of people who lost siblings there - shook me again ... and again.

I think it's a tremendous testament to the families of the victims that they never relented to have their loved ones' names cleared (and the names of all Liverpool fans) and to have the truth 'forced' on the world.

It's a tremendous testament to Liverpool's residents, the many 'allies' of humanity and truth countrywide and worldwide, and the many Liverpool fans worldwide who refused to allow the truth to be buried.

It's a testament to Liverpool FC for how they handled this.

I hope these families are finding peace with the truth on their side finally ...

Justice for the 96

YNWA

That's all really.

 

[6TimesaRed]

I had a good freind at the game..

I just remember watching the event unfold on the TV... every hour I'd take a look and the death toll would have risen dramatically..

I was totally worried about my freind.. His mother was beside herself...

Later that evening he arrived home with his dad, to such a great releif to all.. I will never forget the blanket look on his Dads face.. He was a die hard red fan, when I look back on it, you could see he was mentally drained white as a sheet when the death toll had been announced ar ridiculous level...

They both sat above the where the disaster was unfolding.. pulling people out of the mire... He said he could see people gasping for air and the crush unfolding right below him... They are pictures one can only imagine you would not wish on anyone.


But like you say I hope these families find peace with the truth on their side finally, its been far too long imho...


Justice for the 96

YNWA

 

[Silver Sean]

I was in pen 3. I was saved by other fans after being pronounced dead on the pitch. I was put into an ambulance on an advertising hoarding. My Dad was in the main stand and saw it all and didn't find me till 10pm that night. The doctors told my family they would switch me off if I hadn't improved over the fourth night. They agreed. I was in a coma for four days but woke when Kenny Dalglish came and spoke to me. I spent two years barely able to function. A policeman lied to my Mum telling her he had saved my life. A print journalist stole a load of our family photos and my Mum had to threaten legal action to get them back. I didn't manage to hold down a job for more than a few weeks for around ten years. I suffer from depression and PTSD. My dad never got over it till the day he died. I recently gave my witness statement for Operation Resolve and it put me in bed for three days.
No one apart from the HJC does a single thing for survivors like me. They pay it lip service every year 'and the survivors', but there are people who have committed suicide, people like Andrew divine who live with horrific disabilities and many others like me who live with it every day.
You can read a bit about what I think about it all here.
http://shinysean.blogspot.com/

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Thanks for sharing @Silver Sean

 

[Ryan]

I was in pen 3. I was saved by other fans after being pronounced dead on the pitch. I was put into an ambulance on an advertising hoarding. My Dad was in the main stand and saw it all and didn't find me till 10pm that night. The doctors told my family they would switch me off if I hadn't improved over the fourth night. They agreed. I was in a coma for four days but woke when Kenny Dalglish came and spoke to me. I spent two years barely able to function. A policeman lied to my Mum telling her he had saved my life. A print journalist stole a load of our family photos and my Mum had to threaten legal action to get them back. I didn't manage to hold down a job for more than a few weeks for around ten years. I suffer from depression and PTSD. My dad never got over it till the day he died. I recently gave my witness statement for Operation Resolve and it put me in bed for three days.
No one apart from the HJC does a single thing for survivors like me. They pay it lip service every year 'and the survivors', but there are people who have committed suicide, people like Andrew divine who live with horrific disabilities and many others like me who live with it every day.
You can read a bit about what I think about it all here.
http://shinysean.blogspot.com/

Thanks for sharing. I can't imagine what it must be like to live with all of that. You have my respect anyway.

 

[nealmac]

Sean, you've told your story a few times on SCM, and every time I read it, it sends a chill down my spine. I can't even begin to imagine what you went through, and indeed are still going through. Respect to you. It also shows that there were more than 96 victims.

Respect to Woland too.

 

[nealmac]

As for me, I was 11 years old, but I remember it as clear as anything. Myself, Jack D Rips and Barrymac20 were watching it in my grandmother's house next door. I'm not sure of the reason, because we never watched football there. At the time, we didn't realise just how big a disaster it was. It was later on that night, watching all the news reports that the true extent of the disaster really sunk in.