Friends of a student who died in a barrier collapse after a crowd surge outside a city centre nightclub have described the fatal incident at a busy Wednesday night social event, to a court trial.

Members of Durham University Sailing Club were among the students waiting to gain access at the rear of Missoula, in the city’s Walkergte complex, late on the night of Wednesday February 7, 2018.

Teesside Crown Court heard that they and members of other university sports clubs had pre-bought block-booked wrist bands, which were supposed to allow for fast-track entry via the back door, as those without tickets had to use the main front entrance.

But all those giving evidence have said on that night when they attended at their allotted time it appeared much busier than on a normal Wednesday and no-one was being admitted via the rear door as more people turned up to join the queue.

Read more: Trial continues into Durham student's barrier fall death at nightclub

The court heard Olivia Burt was with friends from the sailing club, who had been to a few college bars prior to arriving at Missoula.

All said it was unusual for them to have to queue to gain access at the rear door, as there was normally only a short wait for wrist-band to be verified before holders were allowed entry to the premises.

Friends of Miss Burt told the court they were standing beside or near to her alongside a barrier which gave way when there was a rush of people towards the rear door.

One of them, Clare Routledge, said there was, “a definite surge towards the building”.

She said she was against a wall trying to keep out of the way, adding: “I felt there was a push and I saw the barrier go down and a good number of people were on the floor.”

She said she went closer and saw Ms Burt was on the ground with a number of people around her, shouting for help, while some people were attempting to offer assistance.

Ms Routledge said she rang for an ambulance, but she was sure other people present did the same.

She said police and paramedics arrived to take over the care of Ms Burt.

Ms Routledge said she gave her details to police and then left to go a friend’s student flat nearby.

It was later in the early hours of February 8, that she returned to the scene when she was informed of the death of Ms Burt.

Read more: Past complaint over Durham nightclub where Olivia Burt died in crush

The court heard the 20-year-old first-year student, from Hampshirte, died from severe head injuries suffered when the barrier fell onto her.

Another sailing club member, Primrose Baxter, said when they were waiting outside she formed the opinion the club was full and she heard a member of door staff saying to someone that they were not going to allow anyone else in, despite many people having wrist-bands.

She said people were, “getting rowdy at the back” (of the queue), and there was a forward surge in which she fell next to Ms Burt.

Ms Baxter said she immediately knew Ms Burt was seriously injured as the fallen barrier was across her head, while other people had fallen onto the barrier.

She said when she regained her footing she also rang for an ambulance, by which time people were administering CPR to Ms Burt.

Other friends gave similar accounts of the incident, while one, Harriet Clement, said as they waited to get into Missoula and more sports social groups were arriving in the queue she became aware of the surge and heard people shouting: “Go, go, go,”, possibly believing that the rear doors were going to open for more people to be allowed entry.

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She said a possible reason for the large attendance at the Missoula event that night was that a rival Durham Student Union event on a Wednesday night was, by February 2018, to longer taking place.

Stonegate Pub Company, the operator of Missoula, previously known as The Slug and Lettuce, denies four alleged breaches of health and safety regulations arising from the death of Ms Burt, in a prosecution brought by Durham County Council.

The trial continues tomorrow (Friday, June 23).