Seoul stampede: Sydney woman Grace Rached identified as Australian victim

The family of a 23-year-old Sydney woman killed in a Halloween stampede in Seoul have remembered the former school captain as a talented film producer, wonderful role model and “gorgeous angel”.

The family of a Sydney woman killed in a Halloween stampede in Seoul say she was a “gorgeous angel” who was the epitome of an incredible human being.

Grace Rached, 23, died when she became trapped among a crowd of revellers and she couldn’t be freed.

The former Canterbury High School captain’s family released a statement on Monday paying tribute to their extraordinary girl.

“We are missing our gorgeous angel Grace who lit up a room with her infectious smile,” the statement said.

“Grace always made others feel important and her kindness left an impression on everyone she ever met. Grace always cared about others and she was loved by all.”

Grace Rached was a talented film producer who passionately wanted to make a difference, her family say. Picture: Supplied by family

“Grace was a talented film producer who was passionate about making a difference. She cared deeply about her two sisters and was a wonderful role model. Grace showed us all what it meant to be an incredible human being.”

“We will all deeply miss our beautiful Grace, our life of the party.”

Miss Rached, a former student and captain of Canterbury Girls High School, in Sydney’s southwest, was killed in the horrific stampede in Seoul’s Itaewon district.

She graduating in 2016 and was a high-achieving student who was labelled a leader of the future by the school.

She is being remembered for her volunteer work with social justice campaigns and events such as World’s Greatest Shave and Oxfam’s Australian Refugee Week.

Miss Rached was also named as a finalist in Wests Ashfield Community Awards for individual high school student and excelled in HSC drama in her final year at the school.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said they were “deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a former Canterbury Girls High School student.”

Grace Rached was a former school captain of Canterbury Girls High School who completed her HSC in 2016. Picture: Facebook

“Our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies go to the student’s family and the broader school community,” the spokesperson said.

A close friend of Miss Rached confirmed the young production assistant was the Australian killed in the crush, saying “she was an incredible person and such a light in many people’s lives.”

Grace Rached was travelling with friends in South Korea when she tragically lost her life, just weeks out from her 24th birthday.

Miss Rached, who would’ve celebrated her 24th birthday in November, was attending the Halloween celebration with three friends in Seoul’s Itaewon district on Saturday night, when she lost her life.

She was among an estimated 153 people killed in the crowd crush which occurred in a narrow downhill alley in the popular party district.

Following her graduation from Canterbury Girls High School, Miss Rached completed a media arts and production degree at the University of Technology Sydney.

Another friend of Miss Rached, Australian man and survivor of the stampede, Nathan Taverniti, told Britain’s Daily Telegraph the crush killed one of his friends, now confirmed as Miss Rached, left two others critically injured and said there was almost no police presence before the tragedy unfolded.

Grace Rached was the Australian who died in the Seoul stampede. Picture: Instagram

Nathan Taverniti said that he could only see “maybe two police officers” at the scene.

“I was trying to help pull people out with my friends, but I knew I couldn’t help because there were too many people behind,” he said.

“I was there at the front (of the crowd) at a T-intersection. There were already so many people in front of me. A group of girls fell down and a group of people were trying to help them up. But there were waves of people coming in from both sides.

“I turned around and told the crowd, you can’t come this way, people are dying, because I already knew how bad it was and people were being so rude and I had to tell them you can’t come this way.”

Mr Taverniti says he was trapped by a “wall of people” and unable to save his friend killed in the crush.

Mr Taverniti said there was nothing he could do to save his friend when the stampede began.

“I just can’t believe it. I was in the front of where it happened,” he told Yonhap News Agency in South Korea.

“All I could see was a wall of people … it was impossible (to save her).”

Mr Taverniti said after crawling out from the pile of people in the crush, he tried to pull others out and called for help.

Grace Rached (front right) pictured with friends before the stampede.

“People need to know how bad it was and how little help there was,” he said.

“Nobody was paying attention.”

Mr Taverniti spent Sunday desperately searching for the body of his friend, who he had last seen being taken away on a stretcher the night of the stampede.

“Her family’s in Australia, so I’m the guardian,” he said.

Mr Taverniti later uploaded a video on TikTok depicting some of the last moments of his friend’s life and explaining the horror that awaited them that night.

In a second video posted to TikTok late on Sunday, Mr Taverniti gave more detail about the crush that killed one of his friends and injured two others.

“There was no stampede,” he said.

“It was a slow and agonising crush.

The crowd surges through the narrow alley. Picture: Twitter

Grace Rached posted this image on Instagram shortly before the stampede.

“This crush was not caused by drunk people. It was a lack of planning, police force and emergency services.”

Breaking down in tears in the video, Mr Taverniti said he was stuck in the crowd when he heard his friend say she “couldn’t breathe”.

“My friends were being crushed in front of me and I couldn’t do anything about it,” he said.

Mr Taverniti said many people in the crowd were oblivious to the deadly crush.

“I watched as people filmed and sang and laughed while my friends were dying, along with many other people,” he said.

“I was trying to pull people out because there was not enough police officers and nobody was doing anything to make the crowd stop.

“We were yelling, we were saying, ‘you have to go back, you have to turn around, people are dying.’

“But nobody was listening.”

Mr Taverniti said there were people one the ground getting CPR from “random people” who were desperately trying to save lives.

“I am sad, I am devastated,” he said.

Emergency workers standing beside a stretcher with the body of a victim of a Halloween stampede in the district of Itaewon in Seoul. Picture: AFP

“The situation could have so easily been avoided, but nobody would listen.”

In his first video Mr Taverniti shared images of his three friends getting dressed up to celebrate Halloween in Seoul.

He dressed as Japanese manga character Tokyo Ghoul, while his three female friends dressed as Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffanys, a witch and a cat.

The four Australians are shown laughing and smiling at the camera, and later walking through the streets of Seoul before dancing in a venue.

The video screen then goes to black and Mr Taverniti explained how his celebration with friends turned into a nightmare.

“This was how our night was supposed to be,” his TikTok said after showing images of the four friends dancing.

“Fun, happy and free. It ended with two of my friends in hospital and one passed away.

“I am sad, I am angered, I am at a loss.”

One of the other friends who celebrated with Mr Taverniti in Seoul was Sydney woman Julia Cho, who also shared her experience on TikTok.

Onlookers watch as a policeman patrols after a Halloween stampede in the district of Itaewon in Seoul. Picture: AFP

Ms Cho said her sister was in ICU following the incident and a friend had “lost her life”.

“Local authorities were not on standby and left innocent people helpless, despite knowing there was an excessive amount of people in the streets with nowhere to go,” she said.

“This happened very early in the night. People were suffocating, toppling over one another and crushed.”

Ms Cho said she was worried she may “never get my sister back”.

“The leaders and authorities hold sole responsibility and have failed their people,” she said on TikTok.

“I’m posting this here to raise awareness and to express my grief for those whose … (lives) were stolen as a result of neglect and poor management.”

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed on Sunday the Australian Embassy in Seoul had been “notified of the death of an Australian at the tragic event in Seoul, South Korea on the evening of 29 October”.

A stampede in the South Korean capital's popular Itaewon district. Picture: Twitter

“The Australian Government sends its condolences to the family and others affected by this tragic incident,” he said.

“We ask for the family’s privacy to be respected during this difficult time.”

The spokesman said consular officials were also assisting “a number of other Australians who were present at the event,” including some with injuries.

South Korean officials on Sunday confirmed at least 19 foreigners had died in the crush, including people from China, Norway, Iran and Uzbekistan.

Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Catherine Raper asked anyone in South Korea this weekend to check in with loved ones at home and confirm their safety.

“We ask all Australians in Seoul to check in with friends and family to let them know your whereabouts,” she said

Australians concerned about the welfare of loved ones in South Korea have been told to call DFAT’s Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135.

Originally published as Seoul stampede: Sydney woman Grace Rached identified as Australian victim