BBC man reveals he and his family escaped being hit by Liverpool driver who smashed into crowd 'by inches'

Daily Mail​

27-05-2025

A BBC reporter has revealed the terrifying moment he and his family escaped being struck down by a people carrier ploughing into crowds at Liverpool's trophy parade last night.
Matt Cole grabbed his daughter and jumped out the way as they avoided being hit 'by inches' as the driver veered into crowds in the city centre.
The BBC reporter was among tens of thousands who had gathered in the city on Bank Holiday Monday to celebrate Liverpool winning the Premier League title.
But the jubilation quickly descended into horror when a driver drove into the crowds in Water Street just after 6pm.
Harrowing footage of the incident appeared to show the car veer into pedestrians on both sides of the street, with people knocked to the floor off the windshield, falling to the ground and darting out of the way to avoid harm.
At a press conference late last night, emergency services revealed four children were among 47 people injured in the 'horror' incident.
Twenty seven casualties were taken to hospital, including one child and one adult suffering series injuries. 20 others were treated at the scene by paramedics.
A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested, police said, adding that he is believed to have been the driver.
Witnesses have described the moment the Liverpool parade turned into a scene of carnage - as one described hearing the 'pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car'.
Up to 1 million fans had lined the streets to celebrate Liverpool's title victory;
Parade began at Allerton Maze south of the city before ending on the Strand;
Chaos erupted on Water Street, about a mile before the parade's endpoint;
The bus had only recently passed the attendees when a vehicle rammed crowds;
A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area arrested, police said;
Twenty-seven people taken to hospital; further 20 were treated at the scene;
Four people trapped under the car, including a child, rescued by firefighters;
Police said the horrific incident was not being treated as terrorism.
Politics reporter Mr Cole, who was with his family at the parade, told BBC News: 'There were screams ahead of us and suddenly this dark blue car just came through the crowd.
'It just wasn't stopping. I managed to grab my daughter who was with me and jump out of the way.
'It missed myself and my family by literally inches. We then turned and watched what happened momentarily behind us before running.
'It was being chased by a group of men who were trying to bang on the side of it and throw things at it. The back of the rear windshield had been completely smashed in, but it just had no intention of stopping.'
He added: 'An entire squad of armed police cars stopped, and people jumped out with rifles and again big medical packs on and began running to the scene of the incident.'
Mr Cole said the ambulance acted like a 'natural barrier... that slowed the car down' but that it had 'no intention - it appeared - of stopping'.
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was also at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the collision.
'This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us.
Police officers walk along Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool city centre on Tuesday morning
He added: 'It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.'
Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer, said four people who were trapped under the car, including a child, were rescued by firefighters.
Witness Les Winsper, 55, told The Guardian how the incident unfolded in front of him.
He said: 'People started banging on the (car) windows.
'Then they smashed the windows and he panicked and put his foot down.
'He then hit someone and that person has gone in the air and he's ploughed through the rest of them.
'I've never seen anything like it.'
Another witness, who was walking with a group of friends, said he saw a car 'speeding up' and hitting pedestrians.
Mike Maddra told the PA news agency the 'car turned left, mounted pavement, come towards us and runs towards the buildings'.
He said 'we got out the way and it was speeding up'.
Mr Maddra said he thought he saw two people being hit.
In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.'
He later added: 'Tonight, I have spoken to Steve Rotheram about the terrible events in Liverpool and the remarkable bravery shown by the police and other emergency services.
'They are supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events.
'Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.
'The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times.
'Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.'
Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby, said he was 'absolutely heartbroken' by the incident.
He wrote on X: 'Absolutely heartbroken by the scenes in town, after what should have been the best of days.
'My love and thoughts are with all affected.'
Emergency services were quickly at the scene and several casualties were taken away by ambulances.
A large police cordon was put in place on Water Street and emergency vehicles could be seen lining the road.
A conscious man on a stretcher was seen being put into an ambulance and a paramedic told police he believed the Liverpool Royal Hospital may be overwhelmed.
Police lined the junction of Castle Street and Water Street and firefighters were also at the scene.
A large blue tent was erected in Water Street, with two fire engines parked in front. An ambulance incident unit was parked nearby before driving away.
A police van and car blocked Water Street, and other police vehicles were parked along The Strand.
Ms Sims said a 'robust' traffic management plan had been in place for the parade.
She said: 'In the lead-up to this event we had been working closely with event organisers and a robust traffic management plan was put in place for the parade, which included a number of road closures throughout the route and the city centre.'
She urged people to refrain from sharing 'distressing footage' from the incident online, but called for videos to be passed to the police.
Ms Sims called it a 'horrific incident', telling a press conference on Monday night: 'I want to thank all of the emergency services, partner agencies and members of the public who came to the assistance of the injured following this evening's shocking incident, which we declared a major incident.
'This had been a joyous day in Liverpool with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate Liverpool Football Club's victory parade.'
Timeline of the Liverpool trophy parade on May 26
Multiple people were injured after a car ploughed into a crowd of jubilant Liverpool fans during their Premier League victory parade just after 6pm on Monday.
The parade started at 2.30pm at Allerton Maze and was supposed to last four hours.
An open-top bus full of players and staff travelled northbound across the city, continuing through key areas.
2.30pm
As the bus made its way along Allerton Maze, players waved to thousands of cheering fans who showed up to watch them set off.
Stars including Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah led celebrations atop the open-top bus.
Crowds of people in Liverpool covered in face-paint lined the street, dancing, waving flags and painting the sky red with flares and confetti.
3.30pm
The bus had already made its first stop to Queens Drive and had crossed over the flyover at the end of the M26.
4pm
Merseyside police issued a warning to the floods of people celebrating.
They said: 'Please keep yourselves and other people safe during today's #LFC Victory Parade by not climbing buildings, structures, scaffolding or street furniture.
'The parade route covers 10 miles and there are plenty of safe vantage points to see the LFC bus. Hope everyone has a great day!'
4.30pm
The bus had already made its way through the next stop - Mill Bank - and had just reached West Derby Road.
5pm
The parade was over half-way through and the bus was making its way towards the city centre.
It started off by driving down Leeds Street before arriving at the Strand and was meant to end on Blundell Street.
5.30pm
The players had passed Old Hall Street junction while Calvin Harris DJ'd at the front of the bus.
5.38pm
Fireworks went off at Malmasion and the Royal Liver Building as the bus headed down New Quay onto The Strand.
5.48pm
The Strand was heaving with people as Calvin Harris played the song One Kiss, fireworks exploded and fans danced and cheered.
6pm
Just after 6pm on Water Street, in the heart of Liverpool's city centre, a car ploughed into a crowd of excited people.
Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes, with dramatic images showing police cordons, litter strewn across the road, and a strong presence of officers, ambulances and even a fire engine.
The car, described by witnesses as 'beeping' as it made its way through the crowds, eventually came to a halt at the scene.
Multiple people were reportedly injured, with four people being seen taken away on stretchers, while another man was pictured leaning heavily on a police officer for support.
6.42pm
Police vehicles, fire engines and ambulances were stationed around the Water Street area as the main road was cordoned off.
7pm
It was announced that the car was stopped at the scene and a man was arrested.
Merseyside Police said: 'We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre.
'We were contacted at just after 18:00 today, following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street.
'The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained.
'Emergency services are currently on the scene.'
First responders were attending to people at the scene and the North West Air Ambulance arrived.
7.08pm
The North West Ambulance released a statement.
It said: 'NWAS is supporting an incident in Liverpool city centre, following reports of a road traffic collision.
'We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services.
'Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.
'Updates will be published on this page and Mersey Police as we know more.'
7.33pm
Prime Minister Keir Starmer released a statement.
He wrote: 'The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.
'I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident.
'I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate.'
7.54pm
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was updated on the situation in Liverpool.
8pm
Liverpool FC released a statement that read: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.
'We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.'
8.09pm
Merseyside Police confirmed the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.
8.40pm
Yvette Cooper posted a statement on X - thanking police and emergency services.
She wrote: 'Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening.
'Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I'm being kept updated on developments.'
9pm
The scene was littered with several police vans and ambulances as well as emergency service workers on the ground.
A police van and car blocked Water Street with other police vehicles parked along The Strand.
Meanwhile, a large blue tent was erected in Water Street with two fire engines parked in front.
10.55pm
During a press conference this evening, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable, Jenny Sims confirmed that 27 people had been taken to hospital following the carnage. Of those, one adult and one child were seriously injured.
She also said the Water Street collision is not being treated as an act of terrorism.
Adding: 'I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight.
'What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it.
'The incident is not being treated as terrorism.'
12.02am
Sir Keir Starmer released a new statement praising the bravery of the police and condemning the incident.
He said: 'Tonight, I have spoken to Steve Rotheram about the terrible events in Liverpool and the remarkable bravery shown by the police and other emergency services.
'They are supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events.
'Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.
'The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times.