Warrnambool’s Rochelle Greene believed she was going to die as she was crushed and trampled in the Falls Festival stampede that injured more than 60 people over the weekend.
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Ms Greene, 21, said she felt like she was drowning after being trapped on the ground at the Lorne music festival’s Grand Theatre stage as countless people stood and fell on top of her.
“I was under for four or five minutes. I think I only got a breath maybe every 40 seconds and I thought I would suffocate. I was just waiting for the moment where I wouldn’t get the next breath,” she said.
Ms Greene was with her boyfriend, Sam Astbury, leaving the DMA’s set when a group of girls fell over in front of them. People behind them, unaware of what happened, continued pushing forward.
“People kept piling up. I was on the ground on my back,” Ms Greene said. “It just got worse and worse.
“Everyone was screaming. People were yelling ‘help me, I’m going to die’.
“At first I was yelling too but then there were so many people on my chest that I couldn’t talk and I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to die.
“In the middle of it all a girl reached out her hand to me. If I didn't know that someone knew I was down there I don't think I could have held on.”
Ms Greene became separated from Mr Astbury in the crush and she describes him as a hero as he worked to save her and others.
“Sam was a hero. He started pulling people out. He was looking for me but he was also helping other people get out, a lot were unconscious,” Ms Greene said.
The festival regular said she was amazed no one was killed in the chaos and counts herself lucky to have escaped with a concussion, scratches, sore feet and chest injuries.
“I don’t even remember how I got out,” she said.
“There was blood everywhere. The back of my dress has dirt and blood all over it. But I was so lucky. The people beside me were critical. So many people were unconscious.”
She praised the work of festival and medical staff. “I know it was hard because there was so many people and even though they weren’t there to pull us out, when I went to triage and then the medical area I was really looked after as much as they could,” Ms Greene said.
More than 60 people were injured, 19 seriously with 13 women and six men taken to hospital with lower leg fractures, pelvic fractures and cuts and bruises.
Ms Greene is still unsure if she will attend other festivals in the future.
“I really love festivals and I go to a lot of festivals. I just don’t know.”
