Rebecca Ikumelo, a nursing graduate and devoted mother of two, tragically died after a crowd crush outside a concert in Brixton. Her family described her as a “sweet mother” who loved working with children. Known for her tenderness, kindness, and love, Rebecca was cherished by all who knew her. Her parents honoured her with the name Tosin, short for Oluwatosin, meaning “Lord is Worthy.”
The tragedy occurred on the night of December 15, when a large crowd attempted to force their way into Nigerian artist Asake’s show at the O2 Academy Brixton on Stockwell Road without tickets. Police were called at 9.04pm and arrived within minutes as tensions escalated. Rebecca was one of three people seriously injured in the crush. Sadly, she passed away after being in critical condition. Two other women, aged 21 and 23, remain in hospital in critical condition.
Authorities are continuing to assist Rebecca’s family following the horrific incident. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for December 18 at Greenwich Public Mortuary. During the chaos, a woman reportedly attacked a police officer, resulting in an arrest. Police have urged anyone with information to contact them via 101, quoting reference number 6725/15Dec.
In response to the tragedy, Nigerian artist Asake shared an emotional message on Instagram, stating, “I am devastated by the news that Rebecca Ikumelo, who was in a critical condition since Thursday, has sadly passed away. My sincerest condolences to her loved ones at this time. Please keep her family in our thoughts and prayers.” He added, “I am overcome with grief and could never have imagined anything like this happening to me.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also expressed his heartbreak, saying, “Rebecca had her entire life ahead of her. On behalf of all Londoners, I offer my deepest condolences to her family and friends at this extremely difficult time.” City Hall is working closely with venues and authorities across London to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.
Anyone with information about the crowd crush is urged to contact the Metropolitan Police.
Originally published by UKNIP.
