'It was chaos': Cork broadcaster recalls horror after car ploughs into Liverpool fans

John Isherwood of Red FM was caught in the chaos as a car drove into Liverpool fans during title celebrations

John Isherwood attended the parade to celebrate Liverpool's victory. 

A Cork radio broadcaster has described the horror that unfolded before his eyes while he was in Liverpool city on Monday to witness his beloved football team celebrating the club’s recent Premier League title.

John Isherwood, who hosts the Saturday morning show on Red FM, was among thousands of fans who lined the city’s streets to take part in the celebrations.

However, at around 6pm, dozens were injured, including four children, after a car ploughed into the crowds of fans celebrating the club’s victory.

With most people enjoying a spring break holiday, up to 1 million Liverpool fans had lined the streets to celebrate the team as they moved through the city centre with the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus.

The parade began at Allerton Maze south of the city before embarking on a 10-mile route over three-and-a-half hours ending with a finale on the Strand in the city centre.

Chaos erupted on Water Street, about a mile before the parade’s endpoint.

Police and emergency personnel deal with the incident during the Premier League winner's parade. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA

The radio host told the Irish Examiner what he witnessed.

“It was so bad, it was chaos, there were people just running and screaming, and we saw a man lying on the ground, he did not look in a good state at all” he said.

John, who is originally from Manchester but lives in Cork City, said he was walking home from the celebrations when he heard screaming.

“I’ve been in the UK since Saturday and I tried to get a ticket for the game but there were none, so we made our way to the parade, me and five other mates.

“There was no signal in the city, it was impossible to find people or call anyone, we had a pub as a point of contact and we had just come out of there after seeing the parade when there was loads of noise.

“I was at the start of what happened, we came out on to the junction, at Dale street and Water Street – we came out from the corner of pub, where we cut through this street to dodge the crowd.

“We heard a bit of commotion and looked up and things were going off pretty fast” he said.

“It seemed like this car was reversing, and we could see this man lying between a car and an ambulance. He was on the ground and it was not good.

"Suddenly everyone was screaming, they ran to the car that knocked everyone down and they were going at the car, it was becoming really dangerous."

The scene in Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool after a 53-year-old white British man was arrested when a car ploughed into a crowd of people during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade. Picture date: Monday May 26, 2025.

He said he could see the ambulance trying to drive to the scene through the crowds and that people were “lying on the ground”.

“We were trying to tell people to give the man some space and let the emergency crew do their work, but it was all becoming chaotic" he said.

It was only after he left the city to go home that John was able to piece together fully what had happened.

“I just knew it was getting out of hand, people were really stressed and screaming and we knew it was best to let the emergency services do their work and to get out of there.

“Then we saw another person lying on the road and being tended to."

"It was absolutely horrific.

“We have seen the footage since and we are able to see now fully what happened as the images are from overhead.

"I really don't know what happened or why, but we were right in the middle of it. I just hope all the people who were injured and that man who was on the ground are ok.”

Police officers walk along Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool city centre after a 53-year-old white British man was arrested when a car ploughed into a crowd of people during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Twenty-seven people were taken to hospital, and a further 20 were treated at the scene.

Footage of the incident, which was circulating online on Monday, appeared to show the car speed up as it veered into pedestrians on both sides of the street, passing a Hooters restaurant at one point, with people knocked to the floor off the windshield, falling to the ground and darting out of the way to avoid harm.

A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested, Merseyside Police confirmed.

Liverpool FC said in a statement that the club was in “direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” a post on X read.

“We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.”

 - additional reporting from PA