Nisha Katona pays tribute to Mowgli Liverpool team after parade crash

Mowgli founder Niska Katona has paid tribute to her Liverpool team after revealing the restaurant was turned into a “medical event centre” after the parade crash on Monday (26 May).

More than 70 people were injured when a car drove into a crowd gathered to watch Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade.

Merseyside Police have been given extra time to question a 53-year-old man from West Derby, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs.

The incident took place on Water Street, where Mowgli has its Liverpool outpost.

Appearing on ITV’s This Morning on Wednesday (28 May) Katona said the crash occurred “pretty much right outside the restaurant”.

“When you get the phone call and you hear this is happening, it was a live event. I had my restaurant full and my teams in the restaurant, your heart just sinks," she said.

“It’s an absolute miracle there were no fatalities. It was nothing less than a miracle. This is a tale of some hope. When you hear those headlines and the speculation starts, every sinew of your body is terrorised.”

Katona added: “Our restaurant was taken as a triage unit, my teams can be in their 20s and this is the first trauma they’ve seen. They were there helping the injured and helping the police set our restaurant as a trauma unit.”

Water Street reopened to cars and pedestrians on Wednesday after a police cordon was stood down.

However, Mowgli and several other hospitality venues in the area have yet to reopen.

Katona added: “We’re not open yet because it’s still a live investigation and we’re waiting for the road to open. It is extraordinary again that there were no fatalities.”

Hooters Liverpool said its bar on Water Street would also remain closed on Wednesday, with the site promising to provide daily updates as to when it was able to reopen.

Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition following the incident on Monday.

Hospitality Action wrote on social media that anyone int he industry impacted by the events in need of practical or emotional support could contact the charity on 0808 802 0282.

Image: shawnmil23/Shutterstock