Sydney film producer Grace Rached, 23, identified as victim of Seoul crowd crush

The family of a 23-year-old woman killed in a deadly crowd surge at a South Korean Halloween party have broken their silence with a moving tribute.

A young Sydney woman has been identified as the victim of a horrifying Halloween crowd surge which killed at least 154 people in South Korea.

Grace Rached, 23, was killed on Saturday night when a Halloween party flooded a narrow alley in the night-life district of Seoul, causing a deadly crowd crush.

In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, her family confirmed the tragic incident in a tribute to their “gorgeous angel” who “lit up a room with her infectious smile”.

“Grace always made others feel important and her kindness left an impression on everyone she ever met,” the statement read.

“Grace always cared about others and she was loved by all.”

Ms Rached was on holiday in South Korea with friends, including Nathan Taverniti, who took to TikTok in the hours after her death to share what he had witnessed.

Grace Rached, 23 has been identified as the Australian woman killed in the Seoul crush. Picture: Instagram

“I was there when she said she couldn't breathe and I grabbed one of my friends’ hands,” Taverniti said between tears.

Ms Rached’s family said she 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,” they said.

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

As of Sunday evening, officials put the death toll of the tragedy at 154 and the number of injured people at 133.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said the death count could rise further, with 37 injured people in serious conditions.

Mr Taverniti said he believed the incident was avoidable and was a result of the local authorities not preparing adequately for the crowd.

Grace Rached with friend Nathan Taverniti. Picture: Instagram

The 23-year-old was working as a producer in the film industry. Picture: Instagram

“It was not a stampede, it was a slow, agonising crush,” he said.

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

He said it took half an hour for police to arrive, another hour for reinforcements and even longer for other emergency services.

“Nobody was willing to help. I watched as people filmed and sang and laughed while my friends were dying, along with many other people,” he said.

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

Mr Taverniti described the horrifying scenes as authorities scrambled to help. Picture: Facebook

“We were yelling, we were saying “you have to go back, you have to turn around, people are dying”, but nobody was listening.

“There were people lying on the ground getting CPR, not by health professionals, by random people, whoever could.”

Two other friends who were with him that night are in a critical condition in hospital.

Two other friends of Ms Rached are in a critical condition in hospital. Picture: Instagram

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident a ‘tragedy’. Picture: Facebook

“I am sad. I am devastated by the situation, which could have so easily been avoided, but nobody would listen.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the tragedy has impacted Ms Rached’s family in the harshest way possible.

“These were people who were out celebrating Halloween, out to have a good time and to come home safely,” he said.

“This tragedy has impacted people in South Korea in particular. But it has also impacted, in the harshest way possible, one Australian family and other Australians who were hurt in this incident.

“We just wish all of those people a very speedy recovery.”