Trauma support urged for witnesses of Knights fans car crash
Trauma experts have called for a state-led mental health response, including counselling, for witnesses to a car crash into Newcastle Knights fans.
Ten people were injured when a car crashed into a crowd of supporters about 9:30am on Saturday at a roundabout on Newcastle Link Road, in Newcastle's west.
They were there to farewell the grand-final bound Newcastle Knights NRL team.
The mood in Newcastle turned from jubilation to devastation.
Port Stephens councillor Giacomo Arnott was in the crowd, and saw the horror unfold.
"It's been on my mind constantly since it happened; it's sort of like a bit of collective trauma that I think everybody's feeling at the moment,"
he said
"I took a video on my phone as I arrived … 4 minutes before the accident happened.
"It's just really sobering watching that video back and seeing how excited everybody was and then knowing that 10 to 15 minutes later, the hush that fell on the crowd."
Investigating police said they would rely on the crowd's footage as they pieced together what happened.
Giacomo Arnott (right), pictured with Knights captain Kalyn Ponga, was in the crowd. (Supplied: Giacomo Arnott)
Vicarious trauma
Witnesses have told the ABC they heard revving, before the vehicle careered sideways into the crowd.
Chair of the NSW chapter of the Australasian College of Road Safety Michael Timms said given the size of the crowd gathered, the impacts of vicarious trauma on the fans would be widespread.
Ten people were injured when the car crashed into fans ahead of the Knights bus procession on Saturday. (ABC News)
"In a moment's notice, they have gone from spectators to many of them having jumped in and become first responders,"
he said.
"There is a need for organised counselling services and avenues where people can just talk about the way they're feeling and just get yourselves back on track."
Fans have described running to help the injured, with people having to lift the vehicle to free some of the injured.
Assistant Police Commissioner Dave Waddell said fans performed CPR on two people who were critically injured.
One of the injured left in a critical but stable condition is a five-year-old child, among the many children in the crowd.
Trauma response
Existing helplines for support include the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511, with headspace Newcastle and the Newcastle Safe Haven available for those in the area.
Louise Newman, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Melbourne and a former academic at the University of Newcastle, said given the number of people affected by the incident, authorities needed to take a "multifaceted approach" to provide support.
"It's very important to look at how public authorities and health agencies can best respond,"
Professor Newman said.
"In the first instance, it really is a matter of identifying people who might be at most risk of any ongoing symptoms and providing an appropriate level of support, as has been called for by the majority of people."
Louise Newman says authorities need to take a "multifaceted approach" to providing support after the crash. (Supplied: The University of Melbourne)
Professor Newman said child witnesses were vulnerable.
"Children often need quite a lot of reassurance and they need to talk things through with teacher and counsellor support in their school environment, ideally," she said.
A family of Knights supporters leave an oval in Wallsend after the crash on Saturday morning. (ABC Newcastle: Piper Duffy)
Community hurting
Sonia Hornery, the state member for Wallsend, where the crash happened, said the community was hurting.
She said people needed to be directed to support services they might not know they needed.
"I would certainly support any kind of trauma response from the government and I do believe it is important that we get on the front foot," Ms Hornery said.
NSW Police inspect the scene where a car crashed into a crowd of Knights fans in Newcastle. (ABC News)
She added that the community "needs to know it is normal to feel angry and despair at what happened".
"I'm happy to support any kind of government moves to offer assistance for people because it was horrific and people in Wallsend aren't used to these kinds of situations,"
Ms Hornery said.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the crash was "shocking and has left a lasting impact on our community".
She said the rippling trauma was understandable.
"It's important to understand that these events can leave lasting trauma and people feeling anxious, distressed and angry.
"Whether you were there, know someone who was, or have been affected by the news, free help is available,"
Ms Catley said.
"I encourage anyone impacted to seek support."
Professor Newman said in addition to directing people to existing helplines, a specialised hotline should be considered.
The alleged driver Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, 18, is facing nine charges.
He was refused bail on Sunday and is due back in court on October 15.
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