A FELLOW football fan desperately tried to stop a factory worker from being crushed to death during the Hillsborough disaster, an inquest heard.

Marian McCabe, 21, from Basildon, travelled to Sheffield with the London branch of the Liverpool Supporter’ Club. An inquest into the 96 deaths, which comes after the previous verdict was quashed, yesterday focused on Marian and her friend, Inger Shah, a 38-year-old single mum.

Survivors told how they saw Martin Malone, a fellow supporter mistaken as Marian's boyfriend, trying to protect her by putting his arms out and holding on to the perimeter fence to stop her getting trapped.

PC Martin Russell Cooper, who helped to carry casualties, said: “I saw a woman in a red anorak, pressed up against the fence, and either her husband or boyfriend was stood behind her, also in a red anorak, with his arms up to either side of her head, pressing against the fence in an attempt to shield her from the pressure. At this stage this woman appeared to be alive.”

The inquest was shown “distressing” video footage and photos of Marian, who worked at Basildon-based Yardley Cosmetics, and Inger at the front of pen three.

Keith Owen, another supporter, told how he saw Marian in the last moments of her life as the FA Cup semi-final was still under way.

She had turned purple and didn't appear to be breathing.

Mr Owen said: "I asked the police to open the gate and they refused. I eventually had to swear at them to get them to open the gate.

“I climbed out...I was trying to reach down to the girl, but couldn’t because of the conditions.

“I got on to the wall and climbed up to the top of the fence and then leaned down, but...because the way the fence was made, it was impossible for me to get to the front three lines of people.”

Fiona Murphy, representing the McCabe family, thanked Mr Owen for his “determined efforts” on April 15, 1989.

The inquest continues.