From BBC News · · 1m 20s
Woman Recalls Fan Fall During Ipswich Match
Joanne Peters says she could have died after fan John Ryan fell on her at Ipswich Town game.
In brief
Joanne Peters says she could have died after fan John Ryan fell on her at Ipswich Town game. Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, told a jury she thought she could have died when 62-year-old John Ryan fell on her during a football match at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground in January 2024. Originally reported by BBC…
Joanne Peters
Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, told a jury she thought she could have died when 62-year-old John Ryan fell on her during a football match at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground in January 2024.
“I thought the box behind us had collapsed into us”
John Ryan
John Ryan, 62, denies one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm after falling from the upper tier of Portman Road during a match.
“I don't know if I bumped somebody or my foot slipped or what; I just ended up going down the stairs”
Injury Details
Peters suffered elements of whiplash, numbness in her hands, internal bruising, and her partner was kicked in the head.
“He landed on my shoulder. The pressure of that fall, he could have broken my neck”
Court Hearing
The trial heard Ryan had been celebrating a goal in the Cobbold Stand upper tier when he fell, slid down a sloping roof, and landed on Ipswich supporters below.
“Momentum took me into a roll”
Ryan's Defense
Ryan claimed he couldn't stop himself after his leg hit a wall, saying the momentum took him into a roll as he slid down the stairs.
“I just started tilting over. As I put my arm out I just started rolling over”
Trial Outcome
Ryan missed work due to injuries and one count of assault by beating was dropped from his original charges.
“No. It wasn't like that. All I know is that I ended up going down the steps and I couldn't stop myself”
The headline
Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, told a jury she thought she could have died when 62-year-old John Ryan fell on her during a football match at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground in January 2024.
