A GRIEVING family today hit out at Hibs ground staff after they refused to make a public address announcement to alert their father to a death in the family.
Robert Butten, 63, was at Saturday's game against Falkirk when his mother-in-law died at the Western General Hospital.
As he had forgotten his mobile phone, his family had no way of reaching him. So, his daughter Lisa Markham – who was also at the
game – asked a steward to make a special announcement.
When they refused, Mrs Markham, 37, and her husband Gavin, 38, had to wait for the end of the game and watch out for Mr Butten among the crowds leaving the stadium. The club has contacted the family to offer its condolences and is looking into Saturday's events.
Mrs Markham, who has had a season ticket for the last eight years, said: "They said they couldn't make an announcement while there is a game on.
"What I don't understand is how come they can announce car registration numbers during the game, but can't call for someone who's just lost a family member. I just think it was out of order.
"I hope nothing serious ever happens to anyone's relatives while the game is on. What happens if someone's teenage son is in a car accident and someone wants to get hold of them in the stadium? Are they going to be told 'no, the game's only 54 minutes in'?"
Mrs Markham was sitting in the east stand when she got a message from her mother, Jacqueline, to say her grandmother, Agnes Ogilvie, who had been ill in hospital for 16 months, had died.
Her dad was in the hospitality area in the west stand, so they turned to a steward for help.
She explained: "Our seats are just a few rows from the front, so my husband went up to one of the security staff, explained and asked if they could make an announcement for my dad over the speaker. She checked with someone on her radio then told us they couldn't make an announcement while the game was still on.
"We walked round to the west stand and the woman at reception was very understanding but because we didn't know exactly where my dad was sitting, no-one could go and get him. We had to sit and wait for him to come out at the end of the match."
The couple had to wait while the final 20 minutes were played before getting hold of Mr Butten.
They then had to fight through the thousands of fans leaving Easter Road and the heavy football traffic before getting to the Western General to console Mrs Butten.
A Hibernian FC spokesperson said: "The club is saddened to hear the news about the family's loss and have communicated with the family to offer sincere condolences.
"The club has procedures in place to provide PA announcements during matches and is currently liaising with the relevant stewarding company to consider the circumstances surrounding Saturday's events."
The full article contains 513 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
