A man from County Down has been discharged from hospital after he was struck by a car during Liverpool FC’s Premier League trophy parade on Monday.
Jack Trotter from Newtownards described his “absolute shock” at how a day of such unbridled joy and collective celebration on Merseyside was plunged into shock and horror after the incident unfolded shortly after 6pm.
After Arne Slot’s side – who could be about to lose Caoimhin Kelleher – were presented with the Premier League trophy on Sunday following the final day stalemate with FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, the stage was set for a city-wide party.
The victory parade was set to commence at 2.30 PM, lasting four hours, with two double-decker buses transporting the Liverpool first team squad and staff on the 15km procession through the city centre, as hundreds of thousands of Reds congregated on the streets to salute their heroes.
Everything appeared to be going to plan until early evening, when news emerged of a major incident.
Merseyside Police confirmed they received reports just after 6 PM of a car striking a number of pedestrians on Water Street.
Video footage captured the moment the car began to move through the packed crowds, speeding up and knocking down several people in the process, before coming to a stop.
Police later confirmed that 27 people were taken to hospital with two seriously injured, including a child.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims went on to confirm they had arrested a “53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area”, believed to be the driver.
Liverpool fan Jack Trotter, from County Down, has been released from hospital after being hit by a car during Premier League victory parade: https://t.co/av0GQdTVf4
— BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) May 27, 2025
County Down Liverpool fan describes car chaos
Speaking to the BBC from hospital on Monday night, Mr Trotter from Northern Ireland said he was in “absolute agony” after he was caught up in the incident.
He had travelled to Liverpool with his girlfriend, Abbie Gallagher, who was also hit by the car, and friends to savour the occasion.
Like so many others, it will be one they will never forget, but mostly for the wrong reasons.
“I’m writing this because I’ve got a million texts asking if I’m okay, and it’s crazy over here. I’ve barely any service,” said Trotter on social media.
“The parade was going unreal until the very end. Unfortunately, I was hit, however, I’m extremely lucky as I dodged the car just in time, however still got hit.
“In absolute shock how an event like this can turn to such a tragedy.”
Our CEO Billy Hogan has issued a message following the incident that occurred on Water Street during Monday’s trophy parade in the city.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 27, 2025
Reaction to the car incident
A statement from Liverpool FC conveyed solidarity to all the fans and everyone else impacted by the incident: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.
“We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.”
Jack Trotter and his group were among hundreds who travelled from the island of Ireland to share the joy of a momentous weekend.
As well as Liverpool’s last game of the Premier League season on Sunday and the large-scale trophy parade on Monday, the city had also hosted BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Sefton Park.
This was a bumper Bank Holiday weekend party, before it was all plunged into chaos.
Fear and panic had descended over a mass of people in Liverpool city centre, which had witnessed a historic gathering in the preceding hours.
The sheer number of people present in the streets was heightened as the celebrations marked the first time the club and its supporters could celebrate a Premier League title en masse since the previous triumph in the 2019/20 season was dampened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
For most of Monday, torrential rain could not deter the spirits of the vast crowd, but much worse was to unfold to render the title celebrations into irrelevance.
On Tuesday, Liverpool’s metro mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital and we are hoping of course that they pull through very, very quickly,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Rotheram added the “big question” at the forefront of everybody’s minds was how the car ended up in Water Street, a vicinity that was supposed to be blocked and off-limits to vehicles.
The investigation continues as to how such an incident was able to happen on a day that should have been all about elation and joy, making happy memories.
Instead, the day was marred by a horrific, major incident that has impacted many people.
Image credit: LFC/X