Brixton Academy: Woman injured during crowd crush at London venue dies

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, who was injured in a crowd crush at the Brixton Academy, has died, the Metropolitan Police said.
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, who was injured in a crowd crush at the Brixton Academy, has died, the Metropolitan Police said.
Kirsty O'Connor
George McMillan

By George McMillan


Published: 17/12/2022

- 13:36

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:26

A total of eight people were taken to hospital after a crowd attempted to gain entry to Brixton Academy without tickets

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, who was injured in a crowd crush at the Brixton Academy, has died, the Metropolitan Police said.

A total of eight people were taken to hospital after a crowd attempted to gain entry without tickets, the Metropolitan Police previously confirmed.

Two who were less seriously injured were treated at the scene.

The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy where police are investigating the circumstances which led to four people sustaining critical injuries in an apparent crush as a large crowd tried to force their way into the south London concert venue. Police were called to the venue at around 9.35pm on Thursday following reports that a large number of people were attempting to force entry during a performance by Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Asake. Picture date: Friday December 16, 2022.
The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy.
James Manning

A statement released by the Metropolitan Police said: “Sadly, one of the women who was critically injured, died at hospital on the morning of Saturday, 17 December. She is Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, of Newham. Specialist officers are continuing to provide support to her family.

“A post-mortem examination will be held on Sunday, 18 December, at Greenwich Public Mortuary.

“Two other women - aged 21 and 23 - remain in a critical condition.”

Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, said in a statement on Instagram: “My heart is with those who were injured last night and caused any form of discomfort. I pray you get well soonest.

“I am also in the process of reaching out to individuals.

“I still do not have the full brief from the venue management themselves as to what led to the disruption at the entrance of the Brixton Academy, but we are thankful that all was peaceful at the end.

“For my people who enjoyed the beginning of my performance, I am sorry that it was cut short.

“Thank you for your unbelievable love, London. I love you too much! I’m looking forward to seeing you again in a bit!”

Ahead of the gig, he had posted on Twitter asking fans not to come to the venue unless they had a valid ticket.

Police officers at the scene outside Brixton O2 Academy where they are investigating the circumstances which led to four people sustaining critical injuries in an apparent crush as a large crowd tried to force their way into the south London concert venue. Picture date: Friday December 16, 2022.
Police officers at the scene outside Brixton O2 Academy
James Manning

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

Footage posted online showed large crowds outside the building on Thursday night, with many people holding up mobile phones and filming the scene.

In other video content, the crowd inside the venue could be heard booing when an announcement was made from the stage saying the show was being stopped.

Lambeth police previously said emergency services attended the venue in Stockwell Road following reports shortly after 9.30pm of injuries after “a large crowd attempted to gain entry without tickets”.

Scotland Yard said police officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended the scene and found “a number of people with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing”.

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