Falls Festival patrons injured and traumatised in a stampede could have grounds for compensation.
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Warrnambool’s Maddens Lawyers has spoken with festival patrons affected by the December 30 incident, which saw 19 people hospitalised and more than 60 people treated by paramedics.
Maddens Lawyers Class Action principal Brendan Pendergast encouraged those injured or traumatised by the incident to contact Maddens Lawyers to register their details as the firm investigates the details.
The crush occurred at the Lorne music festival’s Grand Theatre stage when a group of girls fell over and people behind them, unaware of what happened, continued pushing forward.
The Standard spoke to south-west victims who said they thought people would die as patrons fell on top of them and others.
Warrnambool's Rhianna McLeod, 19, was shocked no-one died in the festival crush that left her unconscious with two broken bones.
Rochelle Greene, 21, also from Warrnambool, believed she was going to die as she was crushed and trampled.
Both women described the horror incident as if they were ‘drowning’ in people.
Mr Pendergast said early investigations pointed to site design being at the heart of the late-night catastrophe.
“Entrances and exits to the venue in question, barricades surrounding walkways, even the material on the walkways themselves… these were all conditions that were well outside the control of festival patrons,” he said.
“These revellers purchased their tickets to, and attended, the Falls event in good faith that their safety, health and wellbeing would be preserved.”
He urged anyone who was injured or traumatised to contact Maddens Lawyers as soon as possible.
“Contacting us doesn’t instigate legal action, or mean that a patron has engaged a lawyer. It’s how we can assess the extent of the pain and suffering caused by this event, and the best grounds on which to pursue legal action and compensation on behalf of those affected.
He said it also helped keep those affected informed and what their options were in relation to legal action and compensation. Go to maddenslawyers.com.au to register.
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