Day’s beginningSouth Yorkshire Police requested that both teams ensure fans arrive between 10:30 and 2pm to watch the match.
2pmLeppings Lane turnedtiles were initially operational smoothly. However, after 2.15pm fans started increasing in volume.
2.30pmRoad was now closed. The PA system asked fans to follow the instructions and move in the designated space. The kick-off was delayed by officers, but they did not delay it.
2.40pm: There were large crowds outside of the turnstiles.
2.44pmThe fans were asked to quit pushing their shirts, even though the crowd was already very bad and that turnedtiles were having trouble keeping up with them.
2.47pm – 2.57pmExternal gates were temporarily opened in order to relieve the pressure on the turnstiles. Fans rushed to the pen and crowded it more. The pressure built and two narrow gates were removed from one pen. Fans invaded the pitch in spite of officers being present.
Liverpool and Nottingham Forest football players are removed from the field when the gravity of the crush begins to show.
As the crush progresses, fans in the upper tier help others in the lower tier.
3pm: Kick-off. The crush was too much at the front of these pens.
3.04pmLiverpool footballer Peter Beardsley smashed the Nottingham crossbar, prompting fans to sprint forward. It was under immense pressure that one of the crush bars broke, making it even worse for the people who were pressed against.
3.05pm: Investigators began investigating the ambulance staff.
3.05pm to 3:06pmRoger Greenwood, Police Superintendent, decided that the match should be stopped. He ran onto the pitch.
From 3.06pm to 3.08pm: A fleet of ambulances was requested by the police
3.07pm – 3.10pmSouth Yorkshire Police requested all resources be used to reach the stadium.
3.08pmUnder Mr Higgins’ command, ambulance officers returned to Leppings Lane to help a victim of fractures. More spectators were present at the pitch. There were many spectators. Some were upset, others were mad.
3.13pmA St John Ambulance ambulance, a volunteer organization, drove around the area of the pitch in the northeast corner. There could have been deaths, it was said.
3.15pm: Wednesday’s secretary for Sheffield and Graham Kelly, chief executive of Football Association went to the control box of police to request information. David Duckenfield, chief superintendent of police said that there had been fatalities, and that the game would likely be called off. Duckenfield also stated that the gate was forced and that Liverpool fans had rushed to enter. Later, it was discovered that this wasn’t true.
Horror: A makeshift stretcher was used by fans to carry one of the injured victims from the catastrophe.
3.29pm: Fire engines had already arrived and there were more ambulances. The pitch was occupied by one ambulance.
3.56pmKenny Dalglish was the Liverpool manager and broadcast a message for all his supporters. He asked them all to keep calm. Police had requested that he do this.
4.10pmMatch was abandoned. Many fans returned to their homes.
4.30pmAbout 88 patients were taken to the Northern General Hospital by an ambulance, while 71 people were transported to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital at Sheffield.
5pmDr Stefan Popper (South Yorkshire coroner) gave directions for the bodies of South Yorkshire to remain in the gymium until their identification and photographs were completed. By the time the evening ended, Hillsborough had declared 82 dead. Twelve more people were also declared dead at the hospital.
Lee Nicol was another victim of the Hillsborough disaster. He survived two days on a Life Support Machine before he also died. Tony Bland, the 96th victim of Hillsborough’s disaster, was his name. Although he survived the Hillsborough tragedy, he suffered severe brain injury.