Liverpool fan feels 'very lucky' to be alive after being hit by car
'It went from being an amazing day to traumatising'
- Published
A man from Northern Ireland who was struck by a car at the Liverpool Football Club victory parade has said he feels "very lucky" to be alive.
Jack Trotter and his girlfriend Abbie Gallagher, from Newtownards, County Down, had been taking videos of the celebrations when a car ploughed into fans on Water Street, in Liverpool.
It happened at about 18:00 BST on Monday as thousands of Liverpool FC fans gathered in Liverpool city centre for the Premier League victory parade.
"The first thought that I got was: 'Where's Abbie? I need to find Abbie. Where's Abbie?' You know she could be anywhere at this rate and lucky enough she was screaming my name and I found her," Mr Trotter told the BBC.
Mr Trotter was taken to hospital by ambulance and kept in overnight.
He has sustained injuries to his back and leg and is now walking with crutches.
He says he is grateful that he is "still here" after the incident and thankful for the people who helped and have supported him.
Jack and Abbie were celebrating with friends in Liverpool
"With what happened, I've never went from euphoria to zero real, real quick, if that makes sense," Mr Trotter said.
He added that when he was hit he "didn't actually feel initial pain" due to the adrenaline.
"And then just as soon as that sort of wore off I realised: 'OK, there's something wrong here', the pain started settling in and then I couldn't walk."
Jack Trotter says he is in "agony"
Mr Trotter described the day, up until the incident, as "outstanding", particularly getting to see "big Virgil van Dijk".
"It was just packed - Liverpool fans just singing from nine o'clock when we got the train right until obviously the accident happened," he told the BBC.
Ms Gallagher told the BBC that the couple had had a brilliant day, celebrating Liverpool's Premier League win.
"Then to see a car coming towards you I just was screaming, you don't know what to think, what to do," she said.
"And all I remember is the car being there.
"I was towards the driver's side and Jack was on the passenger side when the car was coming at us.
"I put my hands on the bonnet to save myself and I shoved myself off the car.
"I just remember going: 'Where is Jack?' and I was screaming, hysterically crying and all I hear is: 'I'm here, I'm here'.
"It was a good five minutes later until I found Jack, and I just saw him and we hugged each other."
'Keep your loved ones close'
Ms Gallagher said Mr Trotter then fell against a wall and began crying, saying that his back and leg were in pain, but luckily someone was close-by to help.
Seeing her partner in so much pain, and in the absence of her family, Ms Trotter said she needed the emergency services to tell her that "everything was going to be OK".
"Keep your loved ones close, that's the main thing," she said.
"Honestly, you just have to be grateful so you do and realise that it can all be taken away from you so quickly."
Jack and Abbie travelled to the victory parade with friends from Northern Ireland
What happened in Liverpool?
Videos from the scene show a car ploughing into a number of pedestrians towards the end of the Premier League victory parade route on Water Street, Liverpool.
Merseyside Police said a 53-year-old white British man has been arrested and is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs.
There have been 65 confirmed casualties, police said.
Four children were among the injured, one of whom was seriously hurt.
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