Hillsborough victims' profiles: A young generation lost

 

Most of those that died in the crush were just starting out on their lives. Thirty six of the dead were teenagers or younger, while 39 victims were in their 20s.

Best friends died alongside each other and the tragedy left families mourning the deaths of fathers, sons, daughters and cousins many of whom had set out together to the match that day.

Hundreds more were injured including one man who remains in a coma-style condition to this day.

The youngest to die was 10-year-old Jon-Paul Gilhooley, the elder cousin of Steven Gerrard who inspired the future player’s career.

Sisters Sarah and Victoria Hicks aged 19 and 15, had travelled to the game from their home in Pinner, Middlesex. Their mother Jenni sat in the stands whilst the girls opted to watch the match from their Leppings Lane End with their father Trevor who found his daughters dying on the pitch.

Father and son Thomas, 34, and Tommy Howard, 14, had set off early from their home in Runcorn to get a place behind the Liverpool goal. Both died.

Brothers Christopher, 26, and Martin Traynor, 16, also died together alongside their friend David Thomas, 23. Christopher had been married for just two years and saved the life of another fan shortly before he died. Mr Thomas’s fiancé was two months pregnant.

Other families lost more than one member: Gary and Stephen Harrison, 31 and 15, Carl and Nick Hewitt – 17 and 16 – also died.

James Aspinall, 18, was at his first away match with friend Graham Wright, 17, who also died on the terraces. Families mourned them together at a joint funeral. Joseph Clark, 29, from Kirkby, was also killed alongside his best friend Alan McGlone, 28.

David Brown’s widow Sarah was expecting his baby when he died aged 25.

Anne Williams never accepted the coroner’s view that her son Kevin Williams, 15, was dead by 3.15 on the day of the match after meeting witnesses who spotted him alive after the cut off time. She has taken her fight to the European Court of Human Rights to demand a new inquest.

Jack Anderson, 62, had supported Liverpool all his life. He attended the match with his son Brian who survived the crush. The oldest fan to die was Gerard Baron, 67, the brother of former Liverpool player Kevin Baron who played in the 1950 FA Cup Final.

Only a handful of victims made it to hospital that day. Of those Lee Nicol, 14, died three days after the tragedy in hospital in Sheffield when he was visited by Princess Diana.

In 1992 Tony Bland, 22, became the 96th victim when a high court judge ruled there was no likelihood he would emerge from the persistent vegetative state he had been in since the day of the crush.

Andrew Devine, now aged 43, was left in a coma at his home in Mossley Hill. In 1997 he astonished doctors and his devoted family when he was able to communicate simple ideas.

Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
Imperial Cities of Morocco
Seven nights half-board from only £799pp Find out more
Historic Sicily
Seven nights half-board from £799pp Find out more
4* all-inclusive Crete
Seven nights from only £399pp Find out more
Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Day In a Page

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

John Madin: The man who built Brum

The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats