30 years have passed since the tragic fire in the Gdańsk Shipyard hall. Seven people died then. It was arson, but to this day it is not known who is responsible. When a fire broke out in the hall after the concert, the audience initially thought it was lighting effects.
On November 24, 1994, seven people died in a fire in the hall of the Gdańsk Shipyard, where the Golden Life band was performing a concert. About 300 people were injured.
Mr. Rafał Borowski's hand was saved, but the scars remained. Not only those visible to the naked eye. – One of these girls was riding on my legs in the police car, and it later turned out that she had died – the man recalls.
At that time, Mr. Szymon Tarwacki worked in the Gdańsk Shipyard hall as a technician. – I saw a firefighter running past me with a fire extinguisher and he looked into my eyes, and I saw that this older firefighter was terrified – the man reports.
Mrs. Ewelina Hałenda and Alicja Żuchowska met in a hospital room. Both were injured in the fire. – What I remember most is the crowd, the crowd, the crying and the disbelief when you looked at your own hands – says Mrs. Ewelina.
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They were both 14 years old at the time and memories of this tragedy still come back, not only on the occasion of the anniversary, but, for example, in crowds or in closed rooms. – There is always a moment of hesitation, wondering where I should stand, where the exit is – admits Mrs. Alicja.
The fire broke out exactly 30 years ago in the hall of the Gdańsk Shipyard. Over two thousand young people had fun at the concert. Seven people died and over 300 were seriously burned.
“'Dad, fire.' Those were the last words I heard from my daughter.”“Attention!”TVN
The arsonist was never detected
The investigation showed that the hall was set on fire intentionally. The arsonist was never detected. However, the concert organizers received suspended sentences after 16 years of trial.
The survivors meet every year at the monument to the victims. Among them was also Anna Golędzinowska, who attended this concert as a 16-year-old. – We were convinced that they would burn us alive at some point – recalls Anna Golędzinowska, currently a city councilor in Gdańsk.
Many of the injured have been undergoing treatment for years, not only physically. At that time, psychologist Bogusław Borys worked with traumatized young people. – It was very, very difficult to establish any contact with some people. Everything but the fire issue – recalls the professor.
The victims of the fire are commemorated not only by a monument, but also by the song “24/11/94” by Golden Life, with the lyrics “Life, although beautiful, is so fragile.” Today, its creators also remember the victims and those injured. – We always try to be here on this day, because people come here who came for us then – says Jarosław Turbiarz, an artist from Golden Life band.
Monument to the Fire Victims in the Gdańsk Shipyard Event HallFakty TVN
Back then, it was the last concert for seven people. For those who experienced it, every concert will be associated with fear. – For us at that moment it was the end of the world, for most of us, fortunately, the world was rebuilt – confesses Anna Golędzinowska.
Main photo source: PAP/Stefan Kraszewski