A young woman sustained a significant injury when she was pushed against a barrier by a disorderly crowd waiting at a music festival. Jessica Gatherer, 19, was anticipating a performance by Becky Hill at the TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow Green on July 9, 2023. Positioned at the front of the line, Jessica experienced the injury due to a delay in the stage opening, causing a dangerous congestion of fans.
During the commotion, Jessica was forcefully pressed against a fence, resulting in a severe knee injury that prevented her from working for six months and missing a pre-planned trip to Turkey. As a hospitality worker, Jessica has now received a financial settlement after taking legal action against the event organizers.
Reflecting on the distressing incident, Jessica, a resident of East Kilbride, expressed her frustration at the lack of apology for the chaos she endured. She recounted the events where she, along with her boyfriend and a friend, found themselves at the front of a crowd for an extended period before security guards removed a section of fencing, causing a sudden rush of movement.
In an attempt to stabilize the fence against the surging crowd, guards pushed it upright, inadvertently pinning Jessica against it until her boyfriend and friend managed to free her. Following the incident, Jessica sought medical attention at the festival’s first aid station and later at a hospital, where she was diagnosed with torn ligaments in her knee and extensive soft tissue damage.
The severity of the injury required Jessica to use a knee splint and crutches for five months, leading to the cancellation of her family trip to Turkey. The recovery process was physically and emotionally taxing for Jessica, impacting various aspects of her life and highlighting the inadequate emergency response from the festival organizers.
Legal representation from Digby Brown Solicitors argued that the festival lacked proper safety infrastructure and failed to adhere to risk assessments, ultimately settling the case out of court for a significant sum. Despite the denial of liability by the involved companies, ESM Operations, G4S, and DF Concerts, the settlement was reached, emphasizing the importance of crowd safety measures at such events.
David Wilson, a Partner at Digby Brown, emphasized the necessity of stringent crowd control measures to minimize risks and ensure the safety of all attendees at music festivals. He expressed regret over Jessica’s injuries but highlighted the importance of following safety protocols to allow music fans to enjoy events securely.