Hillsborough inquests - September 25

The Hillsborough inquests commenced on March 31, 2014 and are the subject of reporting restrictions that have been imposed by the Attorney General's office. Liverpool Football Club is respectful of these restrictions and will therefore only be making available updates from other media channels for the duration of the inquest.

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Courtesy of the Liverpool Echo - September 25

Liverpool fans had to be helped over the fences to escape the crush at Hillsborough, because they struggled to get through an open gate that led onto the pitch.

Former police woman Alison Schofield told the inquests she saw police officers trying to help people out of the pens.

She told Christina Lambert, counsel to the inquests, that the gate was open, but it was difficult to get people through it.

Mrs Schofield, who on the day was stationed at turnstiles 11-16, leading to the west stand of the stadium, was called to the pitch as the disaster unfolded.

As she approached the Leppings Lane terrace, she said she saw a lot of fans on the pitch and police officers.

When she looked through the mesh fence into a pen behind the goal, she said she saw fans in crisis and thought that at least one had already died.

"I was very shocked at the time," she told Ms Lambert.

"There were a couple of older teenagers that were very distressed and shocked so I helped them and sat them down on the corner of the pitch and tried to reassure them and give them some comfort."

Mrs Schofield and PC Neil Kirby resuscitated a boy. She gave cardiac massage and stayed with him until he went into an ambulance.

The jury heard that before Mrs Schofield was a police officer, she trained for five years as a midwife.

During questioning by Mark George, on behalf of 22 of the families, she said she understood the significance of the recovery position.

Mr George said many fans on the day were carried on advertising hoardings 150 yards to the gymnasium.

He said: "With your medical experience you would be pretty horrified at the idea of people who were unconscious being carried in that way and that distance on their backs, wouldn't you?"

She said yes.

Mrs Schofield agreed with Mr George that fans who were alive outside the pens could have become beyond recovery by the time they got to the gym if carried in that way.

The hearing adjourned early today, after a member of the jury became unwell. The inquests continue and will resume on Monday, September 29.