Woman hurt in Northampton nightclub crush 'improving'

The condition of a 21-year-old woman critically injured in a crush at a Northampton nightclub in which a student died is improving in hospital.

The woman, from London, who was taken to hospital after the incident at the Lava Ignite club in the early hours of Wednesday, is now conscious.

Student Nabila Nanfuka, 22, of Neasden, north-west London, was crushed to death at the event.

A 19-year-old woman, also from London, remains in a critical condition.

Arrest made

The 21-year-old woman is improving at Northampton General Hospital, police said.

Miss Nanfuka, a University of Northampton leisure and tourism student, was also taken to hospital but died soon after her arrival.

Six other people were injured as people rushed to get out of the club.

A member of the event's promotions team has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

Lava Ignite had its licence suspended by Northampton Borough Council on Thursday pending a police investigation.

Staff at the club lost control of the premises at the event, called DNA Presents Wickedest Wickedest, police told Northampton Borough Council's licensing panel review.

Nabila Nanfuka was studying leisure and tourism

The committee heard people panicked at the event due to overcrowding.

PC David Bryan, licensing officer at Northamptonshire Police, told the panel the force took a call from a group of people who were trapped in a lift.

The club's owner, Luminar Leisure, has launched an investigation.

A solicitor acting for the firm said it believed an announcement from the DJ saying that coaches were leaving prompted the crush.

In a statement to the media on Friday afternoon, Lava Ignite said counting procedures were in place on the evening and CCTV footage from the club's 14 cameras had been given to police.

Police are appealing for anyone who was at the nightclub, or who might have any information, to contact a dedicated phone line on 0800 096 0095 or 03000 111 222, reference Operation Seahorse.