Hillsborough victim 'moaned in pain' on stretcher

Brothers Carl (left) and Nick Hewitt were among 96 fans who died in the crush at Hillsborough

A 16-year-old who died in the Hillsborough disaster "moaned in pain" as he was carried on a makeshift stretcher, an inquest heard.

Nick Hewitt was carried across the pitch on an advertising hoarding by a police officer at the match on 15 April 1989.

Liverpool fan Peter Finnegan, who also helped, said the boy's eyes were "appealing" for him to "help me."

Nick's brother Carl, 17, was also among 96 fans who died in the crush.

The disaster unfolded at Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium.

The victims' mother Brenda Hewitt, who has since died, wrote a statement which was read to jurors at the inquests last year.

In it, she said Carl was training to be a cabinet maker and was to receive a "Best in Class" award from his college.

Who were the 96 victims?

BBC News: Profiles of all those who died

He was said to have been "very caring" for Nick and "always stuck up for him."

Nick was interested in becoming an electrical engineer and "loved life and was always ready for fun."

The brothers travelled from Leicester with a branch of Liverpool Supporters Club.

Footage timed from 14:45 BST - 15 minutes before the scheduled kick-off - showed them standing in an enclosure on the Leppings Lane terraces waiting for the kick-off.

However, there is no footage of either brother being carried off the terraces.

'No obvious injuries'

At 15:31 BST, Nick was filmed lying on the pitch as consultant surgeon Christopher Rigby gave him "vigorous" chest compressions. He was seen standing up and appeared to shake his head.

PC Paul Marsden, who carried Nick on the hoarding, said he thought he was "still alive" as he "made a noise like a moan of discomfort" as they carried him across the pitch.

In his 2013 statement, he said: "I couldn't see any obvious injuries on this male. I could tell he was in pain because he was moaning, not loudly."

Mr Finnegan, who had first aid training with the Territorial Army, said Nick's eyes were open and appeared to be "appealing" for him to "help me."

He said they put him down at the opposite end of the ground and encouraged those around to try and resuscitate him. He started doing chest compressions and said when he touched him, he "felt warm."

Dr Philip Bliss found Carl Hewitt near the goalmouth at Leppings Lane.

He said he was "blue and grey" and "appeared to be dead." People were giving him first aid.

The inquests, sitting in Warrington, Cheshire, continue.