An inquest has concluded that Mark Townsend, a 57-year-old football fan from Birmingham, tragically died of a heart attack after collapsing at Hillsborough Stadium during a match between West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday on September 28, 2024. Despite receiving early CPR from an off-duty paramedic, the inquest found that delays in medical treatment and confusion among stewards and paramedics may have contributed to his death.
What Happened
Mark Townsend collapsed in the Leppings Lane stand at Hillsborough Stadium, where he was attending the football match. Emergency responders were called to the scene, and an off-duty paramedic, Chelsea Jones, quickly began performing CPR, giving Townsend “the best possible chance” of survival, according to the coroner’s statement.
However, a significant delay occurred in accessing the necessary medical equipment and providing ventilation. It was reported that stewards struggled to find someone with a radio to call for paramedics, resulting in a crucial one-minute delay before help arrived. This delay, though not directly causing his death, was deemed unnecessary and raised concerns about the adequacy of staff training and communication during emergencies.
The paramedics, from private company Lambda Medical, arrived four minutes after being notified but did not administer ventilation for an additional 15 minutes. Once Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics arrived at 13:14, after about 14 minutes, the response time was still slower than ideal, according to standard protocol for cardiac arrest.
Inquest Findings
The inquest determined that Townsend’s death was caused by a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, due to coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. Coroner Tanyka Rawden noted that the heart attack was likely “unsurvivable” based on the severity of his condition.
However, she highlighted that confusion between the two paramedic teams, a lack of clear leadership, and delayed medical actions likely contributed to his death. Rawden emphasized that improvements in communication, such as clearer staff access to radios and better coordination between medical teams, should be made to prevent future incidents.
Family Tributes
Mark Townsend’s family expressed their deep grief following the inquest. His wife, Marion, shared a heartfelt tribute, describing the profound love she experienced with Mark, which she considers a rare and precious gift. His brother Steve described him as one of the “nicest people you would ever meet” and shared that Mark would have given his last pound to anyone in need.
Calls for Improvement
Following the coroner’s findings, Sheffield Wednesday FC stated that they would carefully consider the recommendation to improve communication and response times on match days. While the coroner found that the medical response time was comparable to what might be expected in a hospital setting, the club remains committed to further enhancing safety standards at Hillsborough Stadium.
Moving Forward
The coroner’s report has sparked calls for more efficient emergency protocols at football stadiums to ensure that every second counts in saving lives. As Mark Townsend’s family continues to grieve, the hope is that lessons from this tragedy will lead to positive changes in stadium safety to prevent future incidents.
This story may be updated as further details and measures are implemented based on the inquest’s findings.
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