Latest news with #BobbyDix
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Daily Record
Terrified fans took refuge in Liverpool pub after parade crash
Bobby Dix, who runs the Pig & Whistle pub, said around 80 people took shelter after the car was driven into dozens of Liverpool fans. A landlord in Liverpool says people "knocked out of the way" by the car involved in the parade crash took refuge inside his venue in the wake of the incident. Bobby Dix, who runs the Pig & Whistle pub on Covent Garden, said around 80 people took shelter after the car was driven into dozens of Liverpool fans. Thousands of people were in the city centre to celebrate the club's Premier League title-win. Mr Dix, who has been in charge of the pub since last summer, told the Echo: "It was a really joyful day until late. What happened for us was we saw violence kicking off about halfway up Covent Garden. We shuffled the people we had in the little queue inside. It was only after I locked down the pub and got inside that people were saying what they saw. "A couple of the people who were in had been knocked out of the way by people who got struck by the vehicle. They were really close to being hit and were saved by other people's misfortune. Other people were there and saw it. It was a horrific scene and they were just glad to be somewhere safe. For me it was just making sure people were warm and dry. "The spirit was actually good in the pub because everyone was safe. We were pouring beer and everything was okay. There were probably about 80 people in there, so I was close to capacity. Luckily capacity matched the demand." Mr Dix said that police advised him and his staff not to open the door onto Covent Garden, so they closed it for the rest of the evening. The landlord added: "We were on a bit of a lockdown. "They never stopped us from letting people leave but we had to escort them up through the accommodation and through a separate exit. It was probably an hour before people learned a bit more about the incident and were anxious to get out to find what happened to their friends and loved ones who were still out in the street." At least 65 people were injured as the car collided with pedestrians. Fifty of those were taken to hospital, with 11 still receiving treatment. They were all said by police to be in a stable condition and appearing to be recovering well. Merseyside Police confirmed today that a 53-year-old man, who was arrested at the scene, is from West Derby. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs. We reported earlier today that the driver may have been attempting to follow an ambulance through the crowds. Multiple sources claimed that the driver of the Ford Galaxy had possibly tailgated an ambulance was a working theory for how the car had gained access to Water Street. At a press conference held this afternoon, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims told the media police were following this line of enquiry. She said: "It is believed the driver of the Ford Galaxy car involved in this incident was able to follow an ambulance on Water Street. After the road block was temporarily lifted so the ambulance crew could attend to a member of the public who was having a suspected heart attack. 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. "As with many large events, with event organisers, we plan for all contingencies, and this included the implementation of road closures to protect pedestrians and an armed policing presence was also in place throughout the day. "There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place, and as we've previously stated, the incident is not being treated as terrorism." A large police presence remains around Water Street and Dale Street, as well as a number of side roads, as police continue to work at the scene. A large blue evidence tent remains on Water Street. Last night the streets packed with fans quickly emptied as police erected a huge cordon around the area. Mr Dix added: "It was more shock for most people. You know these things can happen when there's a big crowd, but you don't ever expect it. It was just a horrible thing. For something like this to happen at the height of everyone's emotions is really devastating. "It's a bit of a ghost town at the moment. It's a bit isolated. There's very little pedestrian traffic. It's mostly just sombre-looking, soggy police folk." Merseyside Police, who is receiving support from neighbouring forces, confirmed the suspect remains in police custody, with the force applying until tomorrow lunchtime (May 28) before they have to make the decision to charge or release him. Detective chief superintendent Karen Jaundrill, head of investigations at Merseyside Police, said: "Our detectives are of course speaking to any witnesses, including those injured, witnesses at the scene and emergency responders as we seek to get a full picture of exactly what happened. "In addition, extensive CCTV enquiries are being carried out across the city to establish the movements of the car, a Ford Galaxy, before the incident took place. We have already had an incredible response from many of those who were there on the day, and I thank them for their co-operation with our investigation."
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Hero Liverpool landlord sheltered 80 people in his pub as car tore through crowd
Bobby Dix, 47, landlord of the Pig and Whistle pub in Liverpool, managed to get 80 members of public to safety as a car slammed into crowds celebrating Liverpool FC's trophy parade 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."
