David Cassidy in the News
Stricter regulations likely after death of girl who collapsed in pop concert crush
May 31, 1974
By Michael Horsnell
Stricter safety requirements at pop concerts attended by very young girls are expected to follow the death of Bernadette Whelan, aged 14, who collapsed at a concert given by David Cassidy, the American singer, on Sunday. The girl, who had a heart attack in the crush at the White City stadium, London, and suffered brain damage, died yesterday in Hammersmith Hospital. The Greater London Council, which granted the license, said it would examine safety requirements for very young audiences.
Reports, from the council's licensing department and the fire brigade indicate, however, that, all requirements were met by the concert's organizers. "We will look more closely at the calibre of audiences" the GLC said. "There is a lot of difference between audiences of 17-year-olds and upwards, and teeny-boppers. But we have no criticism to make of the organizers. " There is no way we can deal with a situation where a 13 or 14-year-old girls puts a fist through a chainlink fence or where 30 to 40 guards cannot hold a door against kids."
Permission had been given for 40,000 to attend the concert and fewer than 35,000 arrived. The organizers also engaged more than twice as many attendants as were required. Mr Jerry Wiggin, Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare whose Night Assemblies Bill failed to get through Parliament last year, called for greater control over such concerts. The girl, who lived at Stockwell Park, south London, had stood for 12 hours to ensure a good vantage point at the concert. She was crushed as hundreds of hysterical youngsters pressed towards the stage. More than 700 had to be treated after the concert.
Mr Mel Bush, who organized the concert, said he deeply regretted the death and injuries that had happened. "The council required the provision of one security attendant to every 250 persons ", he said "We engaged Artistes Services, an organization with great experience of providing security attendants at pop music concerts, to provide 250 men; and a further 150 regular White City attendants were also present, making a total of 400."
Mr. Cassidy, who was resting yesterday before leaving Britain, said in a statement: "I am very saddened and distressed to hear of the death of Bernadette and wish to express my sincere condolences to her family. Obviously I am deeply upset that such a tragedy should have occurred at one of my concerts." He had done everything in his power to calm the audience, even stopping the show at one point for 20 minutes.
