Young Dog Handler Fighting for Life After Brixton Crush
A 23-year-old woman from Gravesend, named by family as Gaby Hutchinson, is clinging to life after a terrifying crush at Brixton’s O2 venue.
Around 3,000 people forced their way into the crowded venue on Thursday night, trampling poor Gaby, who was working as a dog handler when the chaos erupted.
Crushed and Comatose in ICU
Gaby suffered a heart attack at the scene and was left unresponsive on the floor for 30 minutes before medics arrived. Now in a coma at St Thomas’ ICU, doctors say she has severe brain bleeding and a catastrophic brain injury.
A family member revealed from their Kent home that Gaby’s parents and partner are by her bedside. Medics have warned it’s touch and go, and her loved ones are preparing for the worst. If she survives, she faces life-altering brain damage. The possibility of turning off life support is being discussed.
Police and Emergency Services Responded to Chaos
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, in charge of Lambeth and Southwark policing, spoke about the incident:
“Police were called around 9:30pm after reports of thousands forcing entry. Officers, London Ambulance Service, and London Fire Brigade attended quickly. Eight people were hospitalised with crushing injuries. Some officers performed CPR on scene to save lives.”
He added that a full investigation is underway, with cordons still in place. Social media footage and police bodycam videos are being studied. An online portal will soon be launched to gather witness info from the estimated 4,000 people present.
No Police Dog Handlers at Incident
After rumours circulated on social media, Chief Supt Wingrove confirmed there were no police dogs or handlers at the scene. He urged anyone with information to step forward. An allegation of an officer pushing a member of the public and an assault on an officer are both under review.
“London hosts many events every week, and police presence is not always routine,” Wingrove said. “We are working hard with partners to find the cause of this tragedy.”
