Forty-seven One Direction fans were treated for asphyxia after fans stormed the Estadio Nacional stadium in Lima, Peru, during their stop on their worldwide Where We Are Tour. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported.
Asphyxia is a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon monoxide that can cause unconsciousness and, at times, death.
According to the U.K.’s The Daily Mirror, as soon as the doors to the 40,000-capacity venue were opened on Sunday, fans rushed through to try to get as close to the stage as possible.
In a video posted online, Niall Horan is heard telling the crowd, “If you don’t want anyone to take us off the stage, make sure you stay back.” Liam Payne added, “Or we’ll have to go, and we don’t want to go.”
It seems the show did, however go on, and according to Mario Cassareto, the head of Peru’s fire service, the situation was “under control,” as the ministry of health set up tents to treat the children, who he says were all between the ages of 12 and 15.
In a statement to The Mirror, One Direction’s rep said “audience safety is always the #1 priority.”
“The planning for this starts with the configuration of the audience on a stadium or arena plan, and where the tickets are sold in that plan. There is always an individual crowd control and security strategy for every One Direction concert,” their rep wrote. “The band’s management employ, in their touring party, the very best crowd control and advance security specialists who plan in advance and on the day with all the relevant local experts and services including police, fire, medical, the venue and the promoter.”
The Lima show was the second in their worldwide trek, following their explosive kickoff in Bogota, Colombia.
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