Inquest to consider stadium death medical response

The medical response to a man falling ill at a Championship football match will be considered at an inquest into his death later this year, a coroner has said.

Mark Townsend, 57, from Birmingham, died on 28 September 2024 at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium, having travelled there to support West Bromwich Albion.

Sheffield's senior coroner Tanyka Rawden said the inquest would consider what medical equipment was available, its functionality, the number of medical staff available and their qualifications.

The timing of the response and the "appropriateness of the medical treatment given" would also be considered, she confirmed at a pre-inquest review on Thursday.

She said she hoped the "disconnect" between different witness accounts of timings would be cleared up at the inquest, as CCTV footage from three cameras would be shown.

Ian Perkins, representing Sheffield Wednesday, said there was a medical response "within at least three, if not four minutes".

Mr Townsend's family, Sheffield Wednesday FC, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Lambda Medical and the Sports Ground Safety Authority were named as the "interested persons", meaning they have the right to ask questions at the hearing.

The inquest is due to open on 29 September and could last up to two weeks, Mrs Rawden said.

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