Police are investigating the tragic death of 20-year old Durham student Olivia Burt. Olivia sustained fatal head injuries while queuing to enter Missoula club at 11.50pm on Wednesday Night. The club, located in the city’s Walkergate, was hosting an event described by its organisers as Durham’s ‘biggest student night’, which Olivia is believed to have been attending with members of the Durham University Sailing Club.
Eyewitness reports suggest her death was caused by a barrier outside the club, which toppled over after a group of boys pushed into the queue, described by one witness as ‘complete chaos’. The Tab Durham has posted photos of the line outside the club, which witnesses report having waited in for several hours. An investigation by Durham constabulary and Durham county council has been launched to establish exactly what happened.
Olivia was a first-year Durham student from Milford-on-Sea, studying natural sciences. She belonged to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and has been described by the RYA’s Chris Atherton as ‘a popular and committed Junior Optimist squad sailor’ with ‘drive, determination and good sportsmanship’. Professor David Held, master of University College, Durham, said ‘the college has lost a bright and outstandingly able student. It is hard to come to terms with her loss, and we will miss her greatly.’
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.