'I survived the Seoul stampede tragedy'

A night of celebrations turned into a nightmare for this brave Aussie

- By Maisy Rae

With her jewellery tight across her neck, her clothes torn from the onslaught of people against her, Olivia Jacovic struggles to break free from the crowd in the narrow alley in Seoul's popular nightlife district Itaewon.

Looking down, her arms and legs are covered with bruises and scuff marks from where people pressed against her, battling to remain on their feet. Thankfully, she has no broken bones but Olivia is shaken up and terrified.

DIFFICULT TO ESCAPE

Speaking to Woman's Day just days after escaping the horrific stampede, which killed more than 150 people and caused injury to a further 150, the Perth expat is, understandably, still traumatised.

Thousands of people crammed into the four-meter-wide alley on October 29 during what was meant to be a fun night out in the South Korean capital to celebrate Halloween.

Olivia is working in Seoul as part of a year-long contract and shares how she began feeling uneasy as soon as she arrived at Itaewon Station and noticed a huge queue of people trying to get onto the street.

"I was on the outskirts of the crowd but kept getting squished and pulled in - it was mayhem," says the 27-year-old.