Teenagers (14 and 16) among the dead Astroworld, others testify: ‘They begged to stop the concert’ | Abroad

“I passed out because everyone was pushing me so hard,” Madeline Eskins, an intensive care nurse, said in an Instagram post. “I just couldn’t breathe. Afterwards I heard that fans crowdsurfed my unconscious body to the security.”

“When I woke up, I was sitting on a chair with a bottle of water on my lap. Around me people were brought in with their eyes rolled away and their noses bleeding. ‘Has anyone here checked a heartbeat yet?’, I asked. I felt the pulse of two people, but it wasn’t there.”

She continues her testimony: “Security officers asked me to help, especially when I said I was a nurse myself. I saw people – who I thought were also nurses – administer first aid, trampled people were just scattered on the floor. There was far too few medical personnel.”

sadness

The organization of the Astroworld Festival in the American city of Houston sympathizes with the relatives of the eight visitors, including two teenagers aged 14 and 16, who died in the crowd on Friday. The event, devised by rapper Travis Scott, made this known in an initial response on Saturday.

“Our hearts are with the Astroworld Festival family,” the organization wrote on social media. “Especially among the people we have lost and their loved ones.” Scott himself said on Twitter that his thoughts are with the families of the victims and others affected. He is “devastated” by what has happened. “I want to help the residents of Houston to support the affected families,” he added.

Both statements do not address online criticism of, among other things, the safety measures during the festival with about 50,000 visitors. How the situation got so out of hand is still under investigation. The organization and Scott say they are cooperating with the researchers. The second and last day of the festival was canceled due to the events.

Drama

On the first day, people were crushed unconscious near the stage, among other things. Partly as a result, eight people died and 25 visitors had to be taken to a hospital. Thirteen of them were still there on Saturday, including a seriously injured child of 10. During the day, more than three hundred people were treated in the emergency room at the festival site.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke of “tragic” events” and a “frightening” situation created by the jostling. The politician said he was sad and sympathized with the bereaved, just like Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Organizers threw this party to let people enjoy music together, but unfortunately it ended in tragedy,” Turner said.

“There was no respirator, no defibrillator, no stretcher… I saw teenagers in the audience trying to resuscitate victims and doing it wrong. I saw people being resuscitated with a heartbeat, simply because no one had checked whether there was a heartbeat. We had no coverage on our phones, so we couldn’t call for help. And people begged the staff to stop the concert, but it didn’t happen. I am so disappointed.”

–