Couple whose daughters died at Hillsborough retrace their steps on the day of the disaster

A mum and dad whose two teenage daughters died in the Hillsborough disaster have visited Sheffield Wednesday's ground together for the first time since the tragedy.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th May 2016, 10:14 BST
Updated 4th May 2016, 12:34 BST
Trevor Hicks, whose daughters Sarah and Vicki died in the Hillsborough disaster, gives a thumbs up outside the Hillsborough InquestTrevor Hicks, whose daughters Sarah and Vicki died in the Hillsborough disaster, gives a thumbs up outside the Hillsborough Inquest
Trevor Hicks, whose daughters Sarah and Vicki died in the Hillsborough disaster, gives a thumbs up outside the Hillsborough Inquest

Trevor and Jenni Hicks were at the FA Cup semi-final with their daughters Sarah, 19 and Vicki, 15, in April 1989 when a crush on the terraces led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans.

Jenni had a ticket for a seat in the North stand, while Trevor and their daughters had tickets for the standing area in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.

Vicki Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedyVicki Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedy
Vicki Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedy

Both Sarah and Vicki died in the crush.

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Trevor said he always thought Vicki blamed him for not looking after them properly.

“One of our difficulties was, I always thought Jenni blamed me for not looking after them properly,” he said.

Jenni replied: “Strangely enough I never did. People automatically think that for some reason but I’ve never, ever - hand on heart. It’s never even entered my head to have blamed you. I never, ever have and still don’t.”

Sarah Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedySarah Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedy
Sarah Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedy

During the programme, Trevor and Jenni retrace the steps they took on April 15, 1989.

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Jenni said: “The last time we were at that ground together was obviously the day of the Hillsborough disaster.

“Strangely enough as a couple we never talked about our own experiences because our group -the Hillsborough Family Support Group - was formed very, very quickly and I guess we were into the 96, and it’s not deemed appropriate just to talk about your own experiences.

“Then we split up a couple of years later. Sadly, our marriage broke down because of all the stresses and strains of it. So you never really had the opportunity to talk about it in such great detail and that’s what going back together did.

Vicki Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedyVicki Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedy
Vicki Hicks who died in the Hillsborough tragedy

“To have Trevor take me around and show me approximately where he was standing on the day, his movements, where the girls were, it really completed a picture for me.

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“There was this strong need from Trevor to show me. We moved around a lot. Once he started he had this huge need. I could see it must have been cathartic for him as well.”

Inquests into the deaths ruled that the 96 football fans were unlawfully killed.