Hero Liverpool landlord sheltered 80 people in his pub as car tore through crowd
A hero landlord locked 80 people inside his Liverpool pub to protect them from a car that rammed into a huge crowd of revellers in the city centre last night.
Bobby Dix, 47, landlord of the Pig and Whistle, managed to get members of the public to safety as they celebrated Liverpool FC's trophy parade. 'There was a couple who were only not hit because they were knocked out of the way by the other people who were hit. I tried to calm everyone down by saying there had been a major incident and they are safe and locked in,' he told the Mirror. Police confirmed last night that 47 people were injured, four of them children, after a vehicle ploughed into a crowd gathered in the city centre to celebrate the club's Premier League title win.
Twenty-seven were taken to hospital, including two in serious condition - one of them a child - while another 20 were treated at the scene for less severe injuries. Disturbing footage circulating online shows the moment the car accelerated, veering into pedestrians lining both sides of the road. People can be seen bouncing off the windscreen, thrown to the ground, while others scramble to dodge the oncoming vehicle.
Stephen Hoy - the boss of Liverpool's oldest pub Ye Hole in Ye Wall, said: 'it's sad because, as usual, it's a stigma that's going to attach to us for a long time. I felt sick. I've got five sons and my grandson who were down there and I started to panic, their phones were dead.' The incident started just yards from his business near a mobile phone shop.
The aftermath left Water Street in eerie silence. Debris, flares, and personal belongings were scattered across the tarmac as emergency services flooded the area. A police forensics tent now covers the vehicle at the centre of the horror. Merseyside Police confirmed that a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area has been arrested in connection with the incident.
An investigation is ongoing, with police urging witnesses and those with video footage to come forward.
Police confirmed last night that the incident was not being treated as terrorism. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: "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. Sadly, at just after 6 o'clock this evening, as the parade was drawing to a close, we received reports that a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
"A number of people have been injured and were taken to hospital. In addition a large number of people of all ages were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. Specialist officers have been put in place to support the injured and their families. Our emergency services colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service and Mersey Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene and will be able to provide further updates.
"The car stopped at the scene and a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested. We believe him to be the driver of the vehicle. Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media."
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