Hillsborough inquests: Police officer who tried to save victim feared being 'thrown to the wolves' for telling truth

Fiona Nicol attempted to save one of the youngest victims of the disaster, 14-year-old Adam Spearritt

An injured fan gets help on the pitch, as disaster engulfs the FA Cup semi-final match on 15 April 1989 (PA)

A police officer who was on duty during the Hillsborough disaster has said she feared senior officers would “throw us to the wolves” if she spoke out.

An inquest jury ruled 96 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed in the 1989 tragedy and found that blunders by South Yorkshire's police and ambulance services “caused or contributed to” their deaths.

Fiona Nicol, who was a constable when she volunteered to police the game on her day off, said she had been scared of reprisals from the police hierarchy.

She told the BBC: “I thought they were trying to blame and scapegoat us and if the opportunity had come they would throw us to the wolves.

“I always kept quiet because I was afraid.”

South Yorkshire Police, the match commander on the day, Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, South Yorkshire Ambulance Service and a number of other individuals could now face criminal prosecution over the deaths.

Ms Nicol was seen on CCTV trying to rescue 14-year-old Adam Spearritt, from Cheshire, by lifting him off the terraces before trying unsuccessfully to revive him.

She said she still believes she “didn't do enough to save him” and has never returned to a football stadium, even banning her children from going to football matches.

“It's just the bad memories - it brings it all back. It brings it back vividly to me, I can hear it and see it still,” she told the broadcaster.

“People were just piled on top of each other and arms and legs. You couldn't get them out, you couldn't pull them without hurting them more.

“He was unconscious, he was limp, he could not help himself. They were coming up over the top of me and it was one of the fans as they were pulling up over the top of me, I was screaming at him to help me because I've still got hold of the boy's arm - I never let go of him.

“There was all that chaos going on around me and I was just focused totally on this boy.

“I didn't do enough, you see. How can you ever lose a child, that's awful. I didn't do enough to save him.”

Press Association