11 Feb 1997
Soc 313
Film Review 2
Disaster at Hillsborough
Summary
The movie 'Disaster at Hillsborough' showed the complexity of a stampede.
From the build-up of people outside the gate, to the disaster that ended in the death of 95
people.
The film started out outside the stadium where 95 people died at a soccer game.
The stadium was not equipped for the masses of people to show up all at the same place at
the same time. According to the officer interviewed there was no plan in case of an
emergency and no problems anticipated. The atmosphere outside the gates was pleasant
and people were looking forward to a good game. The stampede started when the people
in the rear realized that the game was to start before they were going to get in. The
stampede could possibly been averted if the kickoff were delayed but the man 'in charge'
refused to delay.
English: A rear view of the Budweiser beer wagon o...
A herd of Herdwick sheep in Cumbria.
Panic!Just as at the 'Who' concert the people in the rear of the line were in an
acquisitive panic to get into the stadium. This pressure was recognized by the police in
the front of the line and due to poor communication nothing could be done to stop it. A
large gate 'gate C' was finally opened to let off the pressure in front. This is when the
true disaster occurred. People funneled straight onto the already full pens and created the
stampede which killed the 95 people. People in the rear were in an acquisitive panic and
the people in the front who were getting crushed were in a fearful panic. The emergency
gates would open but the police, not realizing the situation, kept people in and closed the
gates.
Critique
This example could not be anymore perfect to show a stampede and...