Graeme Banfield was just 13 when a stranger saved his life at Hillsborough 37 years ago
Two young boys, one dressed in a red sports jersey and the other in a blue shirt, are sitting next to each other on a patterned couch, with one holding a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.
Graeme, left, with brother Paul. The brothers were aged just 13 and 16 when they were saved by a stranger at Hillsborough(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
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A Liverpool fan is searching for a stranger who saved his life during the Hillsborough disaster 37 years ago. Graeme Banfield, from Huyton, was just 13 when he and his brother Paul, 16, travelled to Sheffield to watch Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final.
He told how a stranger saved the brothers on the Leppings Lane terrace that day. He is now making an appeal to find the man ahead of the 37th anniversary of the tragedy, in which 97 people were unlawfully killed.
Graeme said: "Without this man there would have been 99 dead that day. He saved our lives. I know it's 37 years on but I'd really like to find him to say 'thank you' and buy him a pint."
Graeme, now 50, was a pupil at St Margaret's High School in Aigburth and was attending his first ever Liverpool away game. His worried mum didn't want her sons to go but reluctantly agreed after seeing their excitement at securing £6 terrace tickets through a family friend.
As Graeme, speaking to the Mirror, read through his statement given back in 1989, which still contains gaps and blanks where police deleted sections. He said: "Everything in my life started going downhill on April 15th 1989. Hillsborough changed my life forever. What followed was three decades of grief, self-destruction and resilience.
An individual dressed in a red shirt and blue jeans stands in a room with a staircase to his left, hands placed on his hips, and a contemplative expression. The room features a wooden floor and a gray staircase with a carpeted surface.
An individual dressed in a red shirt and blue jeans stands in a room with a staircase to his left, hands placed on his hips, and a contemplative expression. The room features a wooden floor and a gray staircase with a carpeted surface.
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Liverpool supporter Graeme Banfield pictured at home(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
"I couldn't talk about what happened for years. But eventually I went into counselling and saw a psychotherapist. He was brilliant and after a year he asked me if I was comfortable writing it down and I agreed."
Graeme has now written a book about his experience. He said: "It's not something I ever thought I would do but I'm very proud of it. My mum died in 1999. I wrote this book for her. It's in her memory."
Graeme explained how he and his brother ended up being taken under the wing of a stranger at the match. He and Paul went with a family friend who had a ticket in another part of the ground.
Before the match Liverpool supporters met up for drinks and sandwiches at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground. While they were there they met the mystery fan who also had a ticket for Leppings Lane and kindly offered to take the boys so the friend wouldn't need to worry.
It was a decision that would change their lives forever. He said: "I've always thought about the man who saved my life. There is no doubt he saved my life. He saved our lives. My memory is he was a Sheffield Wednesday fan but my brother thinks he was a Sheffield United supporter.
An image displays a close-up of a handwritten document on a piece of paper. The document features cursive writing and is partially obscured by a blue-colored object, possibly a glove or a sleeve, that partially covers the bottom right corner of the paper. The text is detailed and appears to be a personal note or a document of some kind, but specific details are not discernible due to the partial coverage.
An image displays a close-up of a handwritten document on a piece of paper. The document features cursive writing and is partially obscured by a blue-colored object, possibly a glove or a sleeve, that partially covers the bottom right corner of the paper. The text is detailed and appears to be a personal note or a document of some kind, but specific details are not discernible due to the partial coverage.
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Graeme’s South Yorkshire Police witness statement from Hillsborough(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
"He was in his early to mid 20s. I would love to find him and buy him a pint to say 'thank you'. He'd probably only be in his early 60s now so hopefully he's still alive and will recognise himself and come forward."
Graeme had wanted to watch the game in the middle of the Leppings Lane terrace. The three walked through the tunnel but the mystery fan, recognising the potential danger, refused point blank to allow them to stay there. They returned through the tunnel just seconds before the police decision to open the gate.
He recalled: "He said: 'Come on, we're not watching it here.' I said: 'What? But we're here. This is where we always watch it, right in the middle behind the goal.'
"No, come with me. I know this ground. I know a better spec." 'But we're here,' I repeated. I didn't want to go anywhere. This was where all the songs would be started and a view right behind the goal. It was perfect But he shouted, 'No, come on, let's go.'
"I trudged off gutted, but I had to do as I was told because he was looking after us. We walked back out through the tunnel, turned right around the side, then up these steps.
"There is no way you would have even known there was a section there unless you knew the ground like he did. It was so poorly signposted."
An individual wearing a helmet and formal attire is seen amidst a crowd, possibly engaged in a public event or demonstration. The background features a blurred, sepia-toned environment, with a sign partially visible bearing the letter "G."
TV image of Graeme being passed over a wall by Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
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"There were no stewards anywhere," Graeme said. "I can still remember two ladies sitting there on chairs at the Leppings Lane end. I think they were supposed to be guiding fans to the right areas. One of them was even knitting."
He remembered how they reached their safe "vantage point". He said: "We were higher now. It was really quite empty where we were standing. The match kicked off and we hit the post.
"Then there were some fans shouting at Brucie (Grobbelaar) but he didn't have a clue what was going on. You knew, you could see the desperation and people trying to clamber over the fence, that there was something badly wrong.
An individual, dressed in a red sports jersey, is holding a book and appears to be posing for a photograph in front of a dark backdrop.
Graeme with his book(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
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"A policeman ran on the pitch to tell the referee to stop the game, and at six minutes past three the game was stopped. There was just a silence in our section of the crowd.
"We were helpless. We just stood in shock as to what was unfolding in front of our eyes."
Later they went outside and met up with the family friend. The local Sheffield man disappeared, never to be seen again. Graeme recalled: "We finally arrived home. We gave Mum the biggest hug.
"She was so relieved to see us. There were some neighbours knocking to speak to Mum to see if we were ok, and while Mum was talking to them we sat by the fire getting warm. Then to my shock, there I was on the Ten o'clock News - being passed over the fans. It was weird seeing yourself."
"I'd like to say thank you for taking us under your wing and looking after us - even though we were strangers a couple of hours before."
Graeme recalled: "I went back to school on the Monday and I was crying my eyes out. The teacher said: 'would you like to miss assembly?' and that was the extent of my counselling or therapy - in those days that was it."
He said the counselling he has recently received has transformed his life. He said: "Recently the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance have been brilliant. Both Liverpool FC and the Premier League have given them money. This paid for my counselling and a lot of other people's. It's great - but it should have happened a lot earlier."