Failure to Stop the Match after the Death of the Fan Causes Reactions

Football fans have expressed their anger that a match between Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion was not stopped after a man had a medical episode in the stands and later died.

West Brom named the man as Mark Townsend, and said it would hold a minute’s silence during the match against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

An Albion fan who said he witnessed the incident at Hillsborough said stopping the game would have given medical teams quicker access and more room to work.

West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday said they would be working together to investigate the circumstances.

Fans took to social media after the match to question the time taken to treat Mr Townsend.

One fan at the game, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC that while CPR could be delivered, there was no room to do immediate mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and there was limited space to get the stretcher down on to the concourse.

The man, who said he helped deliver first aid, also said the aisles at the Hillsborough Stadium were not wide enough to carry stretchers.

The BBC has approached Yorkshire Ambulance Service for more information.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Townsend’s brother said: “My heart is truly broken, my son had to watch my brother pass away and lose an uncle, and is left with those memories.

“I have had to break the news to my parents and his wife.

“My brother loved the Baggies, he was my best mate and going to a game will never be the same.”

A West Brom spokesperson said: “The club is in regular contact with the supporter’s family and again asks that they are allowed to mourn their loss privately.

“Albion will work with Sheffield Wednesday, the EFL and all relevant parties to establish the circumstances relating to the supporter’s tragic passing.”

In a separate statement, Sheffield Wednesday sent its condolences to the victim’s family and said it would be working with all those involved to “collectively establish the full circumstances regarding this tragic loss of life”.