When I heard the devastating news an Oasis fan had died after being “found with injuries consistent with a fall” at their August 2 Wembley stadium gig, my heart sank. When I attended earlier in the week, on July 30, I had an incredible time, but I remember how chaotic it felt, because of the massive crowds and slippery surfaces.
A few days later, on Saturday, August 2, dad-of-three Lee Claydon died after falling from a height at the end of the Manchester-band’s performance. The 45-year-old from Bournemouth allegedly fell from an upper tier of Wembley Stadium, where Liam and Noel Gallagher were playing for the fourth time that week.
The details surrounding the cause of the fall haven’t yet been confirmed, but his devastated dad Clive Claydon, 75, claims his son’s fall was an accident and he slipped. He wasn’t at the London event himself, but the dad said his son “may have had a couple of beers but had not taken any drugs”.
He added: “People have said horrible things but it was just an accident. All I know is there was beer everywhere, it’s slippery, he slipped apparently, we do not know the rest of it. There’s questions about the barriers.”
I attended the Oasis gig on Wednesday, July 30, and had an amazing time. I was sitting in the upper tier, enjoying the music from afar, but three things really concerned me, and it struck me it could be an accident waiting to happen.
People throwing beer
I arrived at Wembley just after 5pm, with the first support act, Cast, due to arrive on stage at 6pm. The stands were filling up slowly but surely, and people were going back and forth between the bar and the stands to refill their drinks before Oasis were due to take to the stage at 8.15pm. Although I would never expect there not to be alcohol at events like this, the sheer amount of it being spilled did cause some issues.
During the second support act, Richard Ashcroft, I felt the dribble of beer hit my head as an Oasis fan slowly, and accidentally, poured his drink on my head as he was enjoying the gig.
“I’m sorry, although I wouldn’t have apologised for that back in the day!” he told me.
Slippery floors
As the night continued, many people started knocking over their drinks. My jacket, placed on my chair, was soaked with beer. I saw many people attempt, and fail, to use those cardboard carriers to carry four pints to their seats – and nine times out of 10 would end up spilling them on the floor.
I realised how bad it had become when I went to the toilet just after Richard Ashcroft had left the stage. The chaos of all the people piling onto the stairs to go to the toilet and grab a drink before Oasis took to the stage was very uncomfortable.
The worst bit was the steps leading down to the internal concourse, where the bars and toilets are. Throughout the night the area became more and more slippy – at one stage it felt like a sheet of ice.
I saw several people slip, and one person even fell down, although he didn’t get hurt. I remember feeling very happy that I wasn’t drinking, so I could be extra cautious. Every time I went back down to my seat, I had a tight grip on the handrail.
Steep staircases
Because of how high up you are, I think standing in the upper tier areas can feel a little daunting. With Wembley’s 90,000 seat capacity, it’s the second largest stadium in Europe. While I felt safe, apart from the odd beer shower, in my seat, someone in my row did slip and fall on his way out onto the steps.
The steps, which are very steep, were also covered in beer. The amount of people made it impossible to move at any speed, but I still clung onto the handrail to be safe and not to be knocked over.
That being said, at the front of the tier, there were barriers and signs telling people not to stand. But as most people were standing, dancing through the whole concert, I couldn’t help but think that if someone slipped and fell, they could still end up being hurt.
At the end of the night, after the epic Champagne Supernova encore and fireworks, we decided to let everyone else leave in front of us. The mass exit was as chaotic as you can imagine, and several people, including me, shouted warnings behind them about how slippy it was.
It seems I wasn’t the only person to notice how dangerous the slippery floors could be. One Oasis fan took to Facebook on August 4 to share: “There was a girl at Wembley last night who slipped over and dislocated her knee in the concourse, my wife and I got her some help and she was taken away with her friend. Somehow my wife spotted her afterwards and we found out she was still able to watch the gig after strapping up and use of a wheelchair which was great news, not sure if she’ll see this but I hope you’re OK and recovery isn’t too bad!! Take care on the slippery floors people.”
Another replied, saying: “My friend fell as well due to slippery floor. Got straight back up and we sang our hearts out and danced the rest of the night.”
A third wrote: “I see a man fall on the steps going down to the floor, he was really injured, blood pouring from elbow and he looked concussed. Can’t believe how many people I see slip on those steps.”
However, not everyone agreed the stadium is the problem. On an Oasis fan group, one person said: “18 years worth of events, most with 90,000 people attending, and never an incident like it. It’s a tragic accident, and blaming it on the venue or security is ridiculous.”
On Reddit, another said: “I went Wednesday and literally saw no drunks or trouble anywhere (queuing for the tube for an hour too).” And a third wrote: “I was in the gods-ish. Everybody seemed relatively well behaved tonight to be honest.”
However, as accidents can happen at any gig, and Oasis is returning to Wembley on September 27 and 28, be careful out there.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Wembley Stadium said: “Wembley Stadium operates to a very high health and safety standard, fully meeting legal requirements for the safety of spectators and staff, and is certified to and compliant with the ISO 45001 standard. We are regularly inspected by certifying authorities both on an event day and throughout the year, and we regularly review and test our plans to ensure adherence to the conditions set within the stadium’s general safety certificate. We work very closely and collaboratively with all relevant event delivery stakeholders – including event owners, local authorities, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and the police – to deliver events to high standards of safety, security and service for everyone attending or working in the venue.”
