3 days ago
EXCLUSIVE Brave father reveals how he saved the life of his two children, 10 and 11, as 'drug driver' ploughed into crowds during Liverpool's title celebrations
A brave father saved the lives of his two children as the speeding car ploughed into crowds at the Liverpool celebration parade.
Reds fan Anthony Claypole, 42, was in the middle of the crush with children Evan,11, and Sydney, 10, when the Ford Galaxy smashed into the crowd.
Around 50 pedestrians, including four children, needed hospital treatment after the car struck fans at up to 30mph near the city's waterfront, which had been closed to traffic.
A 53-year-old man, described by police as white British and from the Liverpool district of West Derby, has been arrested for attempted murder, drug driving and dangerous driving.
Recalling the moment the car struck, Anthony told MailOnline: 'There was a sea of people, it was that packed when we heard people saying: 'Oh, my God, oh my God.'
'I looked above the crowd and I could see flailing arms - with that I heard the engine revving and I could see the car was coming straight for us.
'I had hold of Evan and Sydney and managed to move them both to the left just enough to avoid being hit.
'But somehow I lost Sydney, I was panicking because I thought she had gone under the car.'
Seconds later Anthony heard a relative who was at the event with them shouting: 'I've got Sydney'
'I'm just glad I pulled the children in the right direction otherwise I don't think any of us would be here now.'
The family, all huge Liverpool fans, had left their home in Barry, South Wales, at 6am on Monday morning to witness Liverpool's Premiership victory parade.
They were standing with friends and relatives in Water Street shortly after 6pm when the Ford Galaxy got through a roadblock by tailgating an ambulance.
The people carrier gave Anthony a glancing blow as it sped past causing him to fall on top of his terrified children.
The father-of-five was afraid that if the driver put the car in reverse he would run straight over them.
Evan suffered a sprained ankle and a cut on his shin while Sydney was left with bruised legs in the Bank Holiday Monday horror.
As they went to get medical help they saw a baby boy on the ground after being toppled out of his pram by the surging crowd.
Anthony said: 'I can't get that image out of my mind, it's not something I wanted my kids to see. As a father, that has done something to me.
'Everything was in complete chaos. I instantly thought it was a terrorist attack, cars being driven into crowds has happened here and worldwide.'
The family were seen by paramedics and advised to take a taxi to Liverpool Royal Infirmary for the children to have check ups.
Instead they went to Anthony's car parked near the Anfield stadium and headed straight for home.
The former HGV lorry driver, who suffers from PTSD, said: 'I just wanted to get out of the city and get home where they could have a hug from their mum.
'All of the Liverpool hospitals were going to be rammed and luckily the children weren't badly hurt.
'The paramedics said Evan's ankle wasn't broken and some friends gave us ice packs to take away the swelling on his and Sydney's legs.'
His partner, Jodie, 35, was at home looking after their other children, Jaxon, eight, Archie, seven, and Cobie, two, unaware of the drama unfolding in Liverpool.
Evan and Sydney, both on half term holiday, are recovering at home after being treated for their injuries at a Cardiff hospital.
Anthony said it was a 'miracle' they were not more seriously injured either by the car or the panicking crowd of people - some trying to get away from the vehicle and others trying to get at the driver.
He said: 'I'm angry that the car was able to get into a crowd of more than half a million people.
'There was a high level of security but it managed to tailgate an ambulance into a zone which was packed with fans.
'The police response was slow - it should have been a case of act now and think later. But from what I could see at the time and since on video it doesn't look like they were in too much of a rush.
'But I can't praise the ambulance service enough - my respect goes out to them, they were brilliant.
'At the time it all happened so quickly but now that I've processed what happened I'm just thankful that no one was killed. It's a miracle.'
The family was due to go on a tour of Anfield for Evan's twelfth birthday in August but Monday's events have put them off.
Jodie said: 'The children's injuries have been looked at and they are fine, it's the mental trauma I'm worried about.'
