Three teenagers have died following reports of a crush outside a St Patrick’s Day disco in Northern Ireland.
Several hundred people were trying to get into the venue at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, after being dropped off by buses.
A 17-year-old girl and two boys aged 16 and 17 died, one at the scene and two later in hospital, police confirmed.
A 16-year-old girl is in a stable condition in hospital, while a further two teenagers were treated for injuries they suffered during the incident.
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People struggled to get off the ground and there was confusion in the immediate aftermath between 9pm and 10pm on Sunday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) added.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “It is a truly awful incident, heart-wrenching for everybody, particularly the families.”
Efforts to resuscitate were made by emergency crews at the scene.
The senior officer added: “Everybody did their best for them last night but it is a truly appalling incident.”
He added: “Unfortunately three are dead, the last person died this morning unfortunately with his parents near him.”
One of the deceased died at Antrim Area Hospital, the other at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton (left) of the PSNI, Nigel Ruddell of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the PSNI’s Superintendent Mike Baird at the scene (Liam McBurney/PA)
The nightlife venue in Mid Ulster can take up to 500 people.
Mr Hamilton said preliminary investigations show there was a crush towards the front door of the hotel, and in that crush people seem to have fallen.
Security camera footage is being examined and police have appealed for videos captured by those present.
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The senior officer added: “We are examining now to see if the people who have fallen are those who are deceased.
“There seemed to be a little bit of struggling going on to get people up off the ground and that might explain also why there was a report of some fighting.”
Six emergency ambulances and two rapid response vehicles responded shortly after 9pm on Sunday.
Four emergency doctors were deployed along with ambulance officers.
Three people have now died as a result of incident at Greenvale Hotel, Cookstown last night, 17 March. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, in Cookstown this morning, says a major investigation is now underway however preliminary information suggests a crush took place. pic.twitter.com/dr0EKXToKN
— PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) March 18, 2019
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service medical director Dr Nigel Ruddell said everything pointed towards it being a tragic accident.
He said initial reports were confused.
A major incident was called.
Police made a direct appeal for people with footage of the incident to hand it to police, rather than post it on social media.
Mr Hamilton added: “We are of an open mind… it looks like a crowd of young people, a large crowd, pushing up against the front of the hotel to get in to this event.
“People then seem to have fallen and then got crushed. I would urge you to use that with some caution.
“Certainly it appears to be at the minute a crush, people have fallen and then been fatally injured.
Floral tribute outside the Greenvale Hotel (Liam McBurney/PA)
“We are continuing to interview people who were there to establish the full facts and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed what happened to contact police on 101 ext 52014.
“We need parents to talk to their children this morning and encourage them to come and tell us what happened. Please do not post photographs or videos online. Please share them with the PSNI.”
He added: “We need people to come forward and tell us what happened last night. Three young people are dead, they deserve a full inquiry. Their parents need to know what happened to them.”
Police posted on Twitter shortly after the incident, urging parents to pick up their children from the venue in Drum Road.
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