‘I could not move, I could not breathe.‘ Florida woman recounts her ordeal at Astroworld
An Orlando woman is opening up about her terrifying ordeal at the Astroworld Festival in Houston on Friday night.
Eight people died and hundreds injured at the Travis Scott-headlined concert after the crowd surged toward the stage, trampling attendees in the front rows at NRG Park in Houston.
Security “had set up the fences so there were like lines to go through and people were just cutting through,” Kidzya Rodriguez told News Channel 8 of the chaos at the sold-out show that drew about 50,000 people.
The 20-year-old hip-hop lover said she started noticing issues as early as 10 a.m. when long lines were forming to buy merchandise and a throng of concertgoers was forming around the opening acts.
Later at the main stage while waiting to see Scott, Rodriguez says things got out of hand.
“People were pushing and pushing,” she said. “I could not move, I could not breathe, and I kept saying ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.’”
Lacking sufficient oxygen, she eventually blacked out.
“I’m recording and all of a sudden my phone goes down and you just see like my hand on someone’s back,” Rodriguez said.
On her Twitter the next day she gave a shout-out to the “random guys last night who made an air pocket for me and gave me water when I passed out for a min.”
Rodriguez also retweeted Travis Scott’s apology: “My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival,” the rapper wrote. “Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need.”
The “Sicko Mode” singer has since said he will pay for the victims’ funerals, hospital costs and mental health counseling.
Authorities are investigating whether concert promoters and festival organizers adhered to crowd control plans submitted before the event. Several lawsuits have already been filed against Scott, fellow star performer Drake, Live Nation Entertainment and others.
