Aussies safe after Durban crowd stampedes, trampling dozens

* Josh Massoud in Durban
* From: News Limited newspapers
* June 12, 2010 3:38PM

A GROUP of Australian tour workers narrowly missed a terrifying crowd surge that left dozens of people trampled in Durban on the first day of the World Cup.

Angry at being locked out of the beachfront live site for South Africa's World Cup opener against Mexico, about 2000 pumped-up locals stormed the barricades and rushed through police lines to join their compatriots inside.

We were stationed just metres from the entrance when the crowd advanced, knocking over barricades and knocking police officers to the ground.

Several locals - including women and children - also fell as bodies continued to rush over them. We witnessed several people recieving treatment for minor cuts and bruises, but, remarkably, no serious injuries.

Frustrations began to boil two hours before kick-off, when officials closed the gates to the 25,000-capacity site, half of which is on the sand. Many of those outside had travelled from the western foothills to experience the atmosphere and were livid, especially given the fact there still appeared to be plenty of space inside when the shut-down order was given.

We gained access as tensions were reaching boiling point, with fans at the front lines yelling abuse into the faces of security guards and police. They rattled the gates and began nudging at them, before a few tried to sneak around the side along the beach.

About half a dozen officers raced away to apprehend them, but the diversion proved to be the signal for the crowd to surge and moments later the barricades were shattered.

It is believed no Australians were caught up directly in the incident, but four tour leaders with the Fanatics - who have set up a tent city at nearby Kingsmead Oval for Aussie fans - were just 50m behind.

"When we got to the entrance we saw the barricades on the floor and everything in a mess," said one male worker, who asked for his name to be withheld. "It seemed like a pretty silly decision for them to close the gates, because even when they all got inside there was still plenty of room for everyone."

Standing at the front of the live site for the match, Socceroos fan Jessika Comito said the atmosphere was safe and friendly.

"We got here three-and-a-half hours before kick-off and it's been great," said Ms Comito, from Geraldton in Western Australia.

"The people are very welcoming."

But a growing handful of Australian supporters would argue otherwise. News Ltd was late last night told of two further robberies involving Australian fans in Durban.

It is understood a couple were robbed of their belongings, including a camera, while walking back to the tent site earlier during the week. Other attacks have been reported on Australians in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Nevertheless, the spirits of Australian fans remain high as the countdown continues to tomorrow morning's kick-off against Germany. At the Durban live site, Aussies were comfortably the biggest foreign contingent - far outnumbering their German rivals who were represented by two men from Munich in lederhosen.

"in Germany a lot of people are concerned about their security," said one of the costumed men, Alex Troll. "It's also very expensive for people to come here from Europe."

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/aussies-safe-after-durban-crowd-stampedes-trampling-dozens/story-fn56wltg-1225878819434