Second person injured in crush outside O2 Brixton Academy dies

A second person injured in the crush outside the O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday (15 December) has died from their injuries, police have said.

 

Emergency services were called to the venue at 9.35pm on 15 December following reports that a large number of people were trying to force entry during a performance by Nigerian afrobeats artist Asake.

 

Eight people were taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing, four of who were reported to be in a critical condition.

 

Gaby Hutchinson, aged 23, died in hospital in the early hours of this morning (19 December). He had been working as one of the contracted security providers for the event that evening.

 

Mother-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo (pictured, below), aged 33, of Newham, east London had died in hospital on Saturday (17 December).

 

Another woman, aged 21, remains in a critical condition.

 

Two further people with less serious injuries were treated by ambulance crews at the scene.

 

 

In a statement, Ikumelo’s family had said: “Rebecca was a graduate of nursing. She was an adorable mother of two children who loved working with kids.

 

“She was well respected in the family for her care, kindness and love. Her parents call her Tosin (short for Oluwatosin) meaning ‘Lord is worthy’.”

 

On Saturday Ch Supt Colin Wingrove, policing commander for Lambeth and Southwark, said: “From the outset, the police investigation into the incident at the Brixton Academy has been painstaking and forensic in its nature, and I can assure Rebecca’s family and friends that this work will continue for as long as necessary.

 

“We are determined, along with our partners, to do everything we can to establish exactly what happened on Thursday night.

 

“My thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with Rebecca’s family and all of those affected.”

 

He today added: “It is devastating news that a second person has lost their life following the events on Thursday. I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to [Gaby’s] family at this unimaginably difficult time.”

 

Police investigations have concluded that Ikumelo, Hutchinson and third person who remains in a critical condition had been injured in the foyer of the building.

 

Metropolitan Police have made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is standard practice following incidents where police have been in attendance and members of the public have died or been seriously injured.

 

This article has been amended on 20 December in line with an update from the Metropolitan Police