Singer ‘died a hero' running back into North Macedonia nightclub fire to rescue young fans
The singer of a hip-hop group playing before a fire killed more than 50 people 'died a true hero' charging back into the inferno to rescue his young fans rather than himself, his manager has said.
Reports suggest 1,500 people including minors were in Pulse nightclub, in North Macedonia where DNK was playing when the roof caught fire.
Andrej Gjorgieski, one of the lead singers of the popular Macedonian band, was confirmed dead by his manager.
Footage on social media showed chaos inside the club as the roof caught fire and Gjorgieski urged fans to get out as quickly as possible.
His managed said the singer went back into the burning warehouse where 59 people were killed, including minors, with more than 100 injured.
The hip-hop group's booking manager Spasoski told The Independent Andrej could have run away but chose to turn around.
He said: 'Yes, it is true. I have never met such a good and humble person in my life.'
Andrej is thought to be among the dead which also wiped out the band's photographer Aleksandar Efremov, backing singer Sara Projkovska, drummer Gjorgji Gjorgiev and keyboard player Filip Stevanovski. One surviving member is thought to still be in hospital.
Police have arrested 20 people in connection with the fatal blaze, which includes government officials and the manager of the venue - an old building that was previously a carpet warehouse - which did not have a valid licence.
Asked if he wanted justice for the deaths in the venue, Spasoski, added: 'We hope that this will make us all aware as a nation and that the state will not allow such tragedies to happen to us again.'
Local authorities are investigating the venue's licensing and safety provisions, as the government has insisted on its 'moral responsibility' to help prosecute anyone responsible for the blaze.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said: 'This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable.
'In these moments of deep sorrow, our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery, and the families of the deceased – strength to endure this unimaginable loss.
'The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least alleviate their pain a little and help them in these most difficult moments.'
He called on health services, police and local authorities to take 'urgent measures' to help the injured and support affected families.
'The Government is fully mobilized and will do everything necessary to deal with the consequences and determine the causes of this tragedy.
'In these times of deep sadness, when our hearts are broken with pain due to this terrible tragedy, I call for unity, solidarity, humanity and responsibility.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Friendships driving Pulse success for Sophie Kelly
The goal attack believes it is a success built on friendships on and off the court which have instilled a trust and fearlessness that has allowed the squad to conquer all their foes. Pulse sit top of the Netball Super League and know a win on the final day will secure that place, and with it the top seed into the play-off semi-finals. 'The team is full of people who work so hard and we all have the same ambitions,' explained Kelly. 'We are quite a young team but that works to our advantage. We're fearless, so we're not scared to go and try new things. 'It's been really enjoyable. When we go out there, we all make sure we're enjoying our time playing as well as fighting to win and I think that really helps us push on. 'There are so many people in the team I look up to. Zara [Everitt], Liv [Olivia Tchine], everyone has got something which I can look up to so that's really great. 'I've spent a lot of time with Darcie [Everitt] because we share a hotel together and she's now one of my closest friends but I get on really well with everyone. 'We've had lots of social times and I have a great relationship with Liss [Alicia Scholes], which is really lovely because we play goal attack/wing attack together so that helps. 'The vibe of the team does help a lot. We all get each other's jokes, we all feel the same way about certain things so yeah, it's really nice.' The 21-year-old is tasting success in her first season in the capital, having made the switch from Team Bath last year, but is still commuting from the south west. She is currently in the third year of a management degree at the University of Bath but travels to London twice a week, where she stays with Darcie Everitt, who commutes from Loughborough, to train on top of games at the weekend. It is a commitment that has certainly paid dividends. London Pulse have lost just twice this season, securing victory over every team in the league at least once. Such results leave them well-placed to secure a home tie against Loughborough Lightning in the major semi-final, with a direct route to the Grand Final on the line, in what will be Kelly's first appearance in the play-offs. 'It would mean absolutely everything. From the start of the season we have set out to win the league and we fully believe we can so this is just another step on the journey,' she said. 'For me personally, playing at this high level in such competitive games is something I haven't really experienced in the NSL yet, so it's given me so much experience. '[I need to] just focus on what we're doing, our processes, and not put too much pressure on myself knowing that it's a semi-final. 'But at the same time we do have to acknowledge that it is a very important game so it's about calming the nerves and connecting with everyone. When we all come in together, help each other and settle down, that's when we play at our best." That emphasis on team bonds remains strong for Kelly, though her own individual displays have also impressed for Pulse this season as she has drawn on her prowess in sinking shots from range. She boasts a goal tally of 61 so far this season, earning her first full 60-minute for Pulse display during their crucial round 13 win over Manchester Thunder. 'I've always been known for those long shots, so when they introduced the Soft & Gentle Super Shot I was like, 'Oh this is brilliant because I can just shoot like normal and get two points for it,'' said Kelly. 'In our team, all three shooters are strong from long-range which is amazing because even if one person's not having a great day, the other two will come on and put up those long shots. 'Beating Thunder by 10 points goes to show what we can do as a team. We had a bit of a blip in the second quarter but we said it was really important to show that when it does get tight we can still grind out the win. 'When it does get close, we don't just give up, we keep on pushing on. So that was really, really important to focus on.' Kelly's form has been rewarded with a call-up to the England training squad for the Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) and the Future Roses programme, with the final NWYC squad to be selected and announced in due course. It is another step on an ever-soaring trajectory for the youngster but once again it will be her teammates that remain fundamental to her development. 'It's always great to be selected by England. It shows that your hard work is paying off so it's really, really nice. I love going up and spending time with all the girls from England,' said Kelly. 'Lots of the England connections have been developing for a while because we've been in an academy together for years. 'We always have such a great time and the training is obviously so amazing. It gets you so fit over summer, so that's really good, and I've always wanted to play in the Under-21 World Youth Cup. 'I was born in 2004 so that makes me the oldest age eligible and when I realised I was like, 'Oh my god that is what I have wanted to do since I was about 15.'' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
NBC News
5 days ago
- NBC News
Pulse massacre survivors are set to revisit the nightclub before it's razed
ORLANDO, Fla. — Survivors and family members of the 49 victims killed in the Pulse nightclub massacre nine years ago are getting their first chance Wednesday to walk through the long-shuttered, LGBTQ+-friendly Florida venue before it's razed and replaced with a permanent memorial to what was once the worst U.S. mass shooting in modern times. In small groups over four days, survivors and family members of those killed planned to spend a half hour inside the space where Omar Mateen opened fire during a Latin night celebration on June 12, 2016, leaving 49 dead and 53 wounded. Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, was killed after a three-hour standoff with police. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The Pulse shooting's death toll was surpassed the following year when 58 people were killed and more than 850 injured among a crowd of 22,000 at a country music festival in Las Vegas. The city of Orlando purchased the Pulse property in 2023 for $2 million and plans to build a $12 million permanent memorial which will open in 2027. Those efforts follow a multiyear, botched attempt by a private foundation run by the club's former owner. The existing structure will be razed later this year. "None of us thought that it would take nine years to get to this point and we can't go back and relitigate all of the failures along the way that have happened, but what we can do is control how we move forward together," Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said two weeks ago when county commissioners pledged $5 million to support the city of Orlando's plan. Visits coincide with the shooting's ninth anniversary The opportunity to go inside the nightclub comes on the ninth anniversary of the mass shooting. Outside, over-sized photos of the victims, rainbow-colored flags and flowers have hung on fences in a makeshift memorial, and the site has attracted visitors from around the globe. But very few people other than investigators have been inside the structure. Around 250 survivors and family members of those killed have responded to the city's invitation to walk through the nightclub this week. Families of the 49 people who were killed can visit the site with up to six people in their group, and survivors can bring one person with them. The people invited to visit are being given the chance to ask FBI agents who investigated the massacre about what happened. They won't be allowed to take photos or video inside. Brandon Wolf, who hid in a bathroom as the gunman opened fire, said he wasn't going to visit, primarily because he now lives in Washington. He said he wanted to remember Pulse as it was before. "I will say that the site of the tragedy is where I feel closest to the people who were stolen from me," said Wolf, who now is national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group. "For survivors, the last time they were in that space was the worst night possible. It will be really hard to be in that space again." Mental health counselors planned to be on hand to talk to those who walk through the building. Original memorial plans for Pulse fell short Survivors and family members had hoped to have a permanent memorial in place by now. But an earlier effort by a private foundation to build one floundered, and the organization disbanded in 2023. Barbara and Rosario Poma and businessman Michael Panaggio previously owned the property, and Barbara Poma was the executive director of the onePulse Foundation — the nonprofit that had been leading efforts to build a memorial and museum. She stepped down as executive director in 2022 and then left the organization entirely in 2023 amid criticism that she wanted to sell instead of donate the property. There were also complaints about the lack of progress despite millions of dollars being raised. The original project, unveiled in 2019 by the onePulse Foundation, called for a museum and permanent memorial costing $45 million. That estimate eventually soared to $100 million. The city of Orlando has since outlined a more modest proposal and scrapped plans for a museum. "The building may come down, and we may finally get, a permanent memorial, but that doesn't change the fact that this community has been scarred for life," Wolf said. "There are people inside the community who still need and will continue to need support and resources."
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
New Madeleine McCann documentary uncovers chilling evidence linked to suspect Christian Brueckner
A chilling new documentary has unearthed disturbing evidence linked to Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner — including children's items, a damning hard drive, and a story describing a girl 'not older than five.' A new documentary has revealed disturbing new evidence connected to Christian Brueckner — the chief suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. 'Madeleine McCann: Inside the Secret Evidence' presents a series of allegations and circumstantial findings said to point toward Brueckner's possible involvement in the 2007 disappearance of the toddler in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Among the discoveries were children's swimming costumes and toddler toys reportedly found at the 48-year-old's property. The documentary also highlights the presence of guns, a mask, and unsettling fictional stories where Brueckner allegedly describes using chemical ether to abduct a mother and her child. One document reportedly places Brueckner at the location of a previous search for Madeleine, during which he allegedly remarked that 'she did not scream' while discussing the missing child with an associate. In one disturbing passage, Brueckner is said to have written: "A very small girl enters the room. She's definitely not older than five. "Blonde, long hair tied in pigtails bounces cheekily back and forth as she comes towards me. I feel like I'm in paradise right now." The film also uncovers an 80GB hard drive said to contain incriminating material, including a laptop key. The existence of this hard drive is believed to have been a turning point in prompting police to relaunch parts of the investigation, reports the Mirror. Location data from the drive allegedly places Brueckner near the Arade Dam in Portugal — a site previously searched by authorities. Brueckner, a convicted paedophile, has long denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. However, the new documentary adds further weight to concerns about his past. One former neighbour, who lived in the same Portuguese town where Madeleine vanished, described Brueckner as volatile and aggressive. Speaking to The Independent, the neighbour said: "If I was riding past and he'd be standing outside, we'd say hello, you know, how are you." She added: "Nothing more. Then we found out he was a really nasty piece of work." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. German police named Brueckner as a prime suspect in the case in 2020, but no charges have been filed in connection to Madeleine's disappearance. German and Portuguese police and firefighters carried out a three-day search of an area near Praia da Luz last week in the latest efforts to find out what happened to the missing child. Brueckner is due to be freed from a German jail in September after completing his sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005. Hazel Behan, 41, from Ireland, who alleges she was raped at knifepoint by Brueckner said last week she fears he will seek her out following his release from prison. Brueckner was acquitted by a German court in relation to the charge of violent rape of Ms Behan at her apartment in Praia da Rocha in Portugal's Algarve. She said: 'His sentence may be ending but mine never did. I have lived with fear every day for 21 years. 'Fear that I'll see him. Fear that he'll find out where I live and hunt me down. I also have fear that he'll do to someone else what he did to me. 'I've called him out in a public forum and I have genuine concern he could confront me. 'I wouldn't put anything past a person like him. 'If he is released, I will worry for every woman and child who, like me, believes the justice system is protecting them. 'A leopard doesn't change his spots.'
