Hillsborough survivor said Liverpool parade crash ‘reminded him’ of disaster

A survivor of the Hillsborough disaster who was at the Liverpool parade with his grandchildren said the crash said ‘took him back’ to the moment of the fatal crush.

Charlie Azzopardi was only 15-years-old when he and his brothers were at the Liverpool FC vs Nottingham Forest match at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989.

Now 51, Charlie said watching the terrified faces of Liverpool supporters reminded him of the crowd crush which killed 97 people.

He told Metro: ‘Seeing all the worried faces of people wondering if their loved ones were okay took me right back to the day of the crush.

‘When my brothers are I were reunited at the station, we all swooped each other into a big hug, so thankful we were all okay – we didn’t have mobiles to say we were alright.’

Charlie said he noticed the crowd at the parade becoming more packed and rowdy, prompting him to leave with his two granddaughters minutes before the crash.

A total of 79 people were injured, with reports of babies in prams being thrown into the air and supporters becoming trapped under wheels of the car.

A 53-year-old man from West Derby, Liverpool, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and unfit driving through drugs.

‘I keep thinking, “what if I didn’t move with my grandkids when I did?”,’ Charlie said.

‘There’s so many “what ifs”, but I am just so glad we are all okay.’

Bar Coopers Townhouse, which is in the heart of Liverpool and where Charlie is assistant manager, raised £200 in just 10 minutes for Alder Hey children’s hospital.

Charlie said: ‘When something bad happens in Liverpool, it doesn’t matter who you are, people come together.

‘We still have that Hillsborough spirit of looking after each other.’

After learning the youngest victim was just nine-years-old, staff and customers began an impromptu auction to raise funds.

Steve Keegan, who helps run the family owned pub, said: ‘We were all just sat round talking about how sad it was for the young kids for such a special day to end like it did.

‘When customers started offering to buy random stuff from us so we can donate the money.

‘Someone gave us £50 for an old hat! We know it’s not much but it’s what we can do.’

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