London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Sep 18, 2026

Second person dies after crush at Brixton Academy

Second person dies after crush at Brixton Academy

Gaby Hutchinson worked as one of the contracted security providers at the event

A second person, aged just 23, has died following a crush at a concert at the O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday.

Gaby Hutchinson, who had been working security at the event, was one of three people badly injured when ticketless fans tried to get into a show by Nigerian artist Asake at the south London venue on Thursday evening.

He died in the early hours of Monday, the Met confirmed.

Gaby’s death comes two days after Rebecca Ikumelo, a 33-year-old mother-of-two from Newham who was also seriously injured in the crush, died in hospital on Saturday.

Metropolitan Police Ch Supt Colin Wingrove described the news another person has died as “devastating”.


The scene outside Brixton’s O2 Academy on Monday

“I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to Gaby’s family at this unimaginably difficult time,” he said.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also expressed his condolences to his loved ones in a statement released on Monday night, adding that City Hall is “working to ensure nothing like this happens again”.

“I am devastated by the death of Gaby Hutchinson, the second life to tragically be lost following the appalling events on Thursday night in Brixton,” he said.

“On behalf of all Londoners, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”

Rebecca Ikumelo


Eight people were taken to hospital with serious injuries on Thursday and one woman, 21, remains in a critical condition after a crowd of ticketless fans tried to get into the gig, which attracted around 4,000 people.

Metropolitan Police said Rebecca, Gaby and the 21-year-old who remains fighting for her life had all been in the foyer of the Brixton O2 Academy when the crush happened.

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are “working hard to established exactly what happened on Thursday night”, Scotland Yard said on Monday.

A large crowd gathered at the music venue on Thursday night


“The investigation is large and complex,” said a spokesperson. “Officers are reviewing CCTV, phone footage, speaking to witnesses and conducting forensic examinations.”

Police cordons outside the venue have been removed, but cordons remain in place inside the building while officers continue to examine the scene.

An online page for the submission of photos, videos and information has been created by police.

“There were around 4,000 potential witnesses present at the time of this incident and we urge any members of the public with information to come forward,” the Met said.

Police officers were initially called to the long-standing music venue at 9.04pm on Thursday following reports of a large crowd gathered outside. A further call was made at 9.35pm reporting people were attempting to force entry into the venue.

The Met has made a referral to the police watchdog Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Family of Rebecca, a nursing graduate, described her as “an adorable mother of two children who loved working with kids”. “She was well respected in the family for her care, kindness and love,” they said.

“Her parents call her Tosin (short for Oluwatosin) meaning ‘Lord is Worthy’.”

Singer Asake said he was “overwhelmed with grief” following Rebecca’s death, and that he had spoken with her family.

Rebecca Ikumelo


“My team and I are still awaiting the full debrief back from the venue management and the police to determine what exactly led to all the disruption caused and ultimately Rebecca’s passing,” he wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

Speaking on the night of the tragedy, one woman told the Standard she had fallen amid the mass of people rushing in and had been “kicked around like a football”.

She told the Standard: “I was going into the concert and I was crushed from behind. The crowd was insane.

“I fell down, they were stepping on my head. I couldn’t breathe.”

Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said in a statement posted on Twitter: “It is very clear ticketing and security procedures have not performed as they should have for this incident to have occurred.

“We need answers about exactly how this happened and safeguards against it in future.”

On Monday London’s Mayor said City Hall is in contact with venues and authorities “across London” to ensure “nothing like this happens again”.

“The urgent investigation into what happened continues and I urge anyone with information or footage from the incident to submit this to investigators via the public portal that has been set up by the police,” said Mr Khan. “You can also submit information and footage to police anonymously via Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800-555-111.

“City Hall are in close contact with the venue and authorities across London about working to ensure nothing like this happens again and I won’t rest until we have the answers all those impacted by the tragic Brixton incident need and deserve.”

Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, was recently nominated for BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2023 award – for artists breaking through in the UK.

Ahead of the gig, he urged fans not to go to the venue without a valid ticket.

The concert was the third of three sold-out dates at the 4,921-standing capacity venue and concluded a run of UK dates.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
TUC Calls for Social Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Taxes on Bank Profits
UK Parliament Enters Conference Recess After Advancing Sovereign Grant Legislation
King Charles Hosts Artificial Intelligence Leaders at Dumfries House Summit
Nearly Seven in Ten UK Small Businesses Delay or Cancel Growth Plans as Costs Rise
Anthropic Details Malicious Use of Claude in Cyber, Weapons and Influence Operations
McLaren Announces £500 Million UK Investment and 1,000 New Jobs
Scotland and Wales Sign Cardiff Agreement to Deepen Cooperation on Shared Policy Priorities
UK Government Moves to Fully Fund Teacher Pay Award as Strike Threat Recedes
UK Competition Regulator Deepens Scrutiny of Microsoft’s Business Software and AI Market Position
NHS England Reforms Focus on Cutting Waiting Lists and Improving Digital Care
England Maintains Mandatory Housing Targets in Push for 1.5 Million New Homes
UK Government Plans Statutory Industrial Strategy Council to Strengthen Long-Term Economic Policy
Asthma Charity Warns of Major Gaps in Childhood Diagnostic Testing Across England
TUC Chief Paul Nowak Appointed to Bank of England Court
Bristol Opens £35 Million Deep-Tech Innovation Hub at Temple Quarter
Oxfordshire Village Votes Symbolically to Leave UK Over Asylum Housing Plan
Andy Burnham Deepens UK Defense and AI Cooperation With NATO and Canada
UK Government Announces Neonatal Safety Reforms After Thirlwall Inquiry
Bank of England Weighs Rate Decision as UK Inflation Rises to 3.1%
UK Health Unions Warn of Staffing Pressures as Public and Private Pay Growth Diverges
Rockstar Games Faces Tribunal Claims From 23 Former Grand Theft Auto VI Developers
UK Treasury Faces Tighter Budget Constraints as Borrowing Costs and Pension Spending Rise
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Sets Out Ten-Year Plan for Greater Public Oversight of Utilities
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Services and Technology Activity Strengthen
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Leaders Coordinate Push for UK Constitutional Change
Police Tighten Public-Order Measures After Anti-Immigration Protests in Dover and Portsmouth
UK Ministers Pressed for Answers After US Diplomat Accused of Child Abuse Images Leaves Britain
Jaguar Land Rover Pursues NATO Defense Contracts for Defender Vehicles
British Service Member Dies in Road Accident While Deployed in Ukraine
George Osborne Calls for Britain to Rejoin EU Customs Union
Anthropic Chief Dario Amodei Urges Faster UK Action on Advanced AI Risks
UK State Pension Set for 3.9% Rise Under Triple Lock
UK Labour Market Cools as Payrolled Employment Continues to Decline
Reform UK’s £72 Million in Donations Faces Scrutiny Under Proposed Retrospective Funding Rules
UK Doctors Warn Expanded Pharmacy First Scheme Could Put Patients at Risk
British Airlines Cut Short-Haul Capacity as Jet Fuel Costs Rise
UK News Publishers Forecast 40% Search Traffic Drop as AI Overviews Expand
Axel Springer Wins Approval for £575 Million Daily Telegraph Acquisition
London Mayor Sadiq Khan Opposes Heathrow Third Runway Over Climate Targets
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Leaders Hold Summit Seeking Greater Autonomy
UK Energy Price Cap Set to Rise to £1,723 in October
UK Treasury Warns Middle East Conflict Is Threatening Economic Growth
Labour Moves to Retrospectively Cap Overseas Political Donations After Reform UK Funding Surge
HMRC Warns Nearly Seven Million Adults Are Unclear About State Pension Entitlements
UK Parliament Passes Sovereign Grant Reform Before Conference Recess
British Rail Passengers Gain Automatic Right to Switch Operators During Disruptions
Burnham Hosts Downing Street Business Summit as UK Fiscal Pressure Builds
Labour Government Moves to Challenge £72 Million in Reform UK Crypto Donations
UK Advertising Industry Warns Wider Junk Food Rules Could Put £1 Billion in Media Spending at Risk
Cornwall Opens Devolution Talks With UK Government Over Transport and Local Services
×