A Retford couple’s outing to London and the Emirates Stadium on May 31 ended in fear and injury due to the massive crowd swell outside Arsenal FC’s home ground.

Lifelong Arsenal fan Luke Hewitt and his partner Sarah Phillips had planned to spend the day in London, have a photo outside the Emirates Stadium and soak up the atmosphere on the day of the Champions Parade before having a meal out and returning home.

Sadly, after they took the stadium photo the trip became something of a nightmare.

Luke, 36, explained: “The area around the Emirates was all blocked off and after receiving several different directions we found ourselves surrounded by thousands of Arsenal fans.

Sarah Phillips of Retford was left battered and bruised following her experience outside the Emirates Stadium.

placeholder image — Sarah Phillips of Retford was left battered and bruised following her experience outside the Emirates Stadium.

"As we tried to make our way through Sarah was pushed over by the crowd and smacked her head on the pavement, hurting herself quite badly.

"She is 13 weeks pregnant so naturally, we panicked.

"Thankfully, people around us were fantastic, someone brought ice, and a stallholder used an Arsenal scarf to wrap around her head.

"Our train was due in two hours time but we were advised by a St John’s Ambulance nurse that an ambulance would be three to four hours, so we decided our best option was to get home and have Sarah checked over at Bassetlaw Hospital.

Luke Hewitt and Sarah Phillips pose for a photograph outside the Emirates Stadium, before crowds surged in to the area in which they stood.

"The nurse, who was lovely, got us an Uber and the taxi driver too was amazing, but it took an hour-and-a-half to travel four miles to St Pancras Station, then we walked to Kings Cross to get the train.

"Once we got to Retford we went straight to the hospital and were there until 3am. Thankfully Sarah and the baby were fine. She was and still is very bruised and sore but no broken bones.

Sarah, 40, said: “I was in shock after I fell and just lay on the floor wondering where I might be hurt. It was traumatic – there were so many people around.

"I’ve had headaches and my face and body hurt from the bruising but we were mainly worried about the baby.

Sarah Phillips was bandaged up by St John Ambulance workers then the couple were advised to return home, rather than wait for an ambulance in London.

"I also had a job interview on Monday which I managed to attend and explained why I look so battered.

"It’s not something I’d like to go through again.”

Luke, who is a personal trainer at Retford Leisure Centre, added: "Considering some of the news we heard of incidents down there, including six people being stabbed, we feel very lucky that it wasn’t worse.”

The stabbings were reported to have taken place minutes from the Emirates Stadium, during the celebrations for the club winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.