The family of a woman who was killed in a crush at a nightclub have described her as “one in a million” and a “beautiful person”.
Nabila Nanfuka, 22, a leisure and tourism student at Northampton University, died following an incident at the Lava and Ignite club in Northampton on Tuesday night.
Speaking outside the family home in Neasden, north-west London, her younger brother Fahad Msimbe said his sister was his “best friend”.
Mr Msimbe said: “She affected so many people’s lives and put other people first. She is one in a million really. She was my best friend, my sister. I still haven’t come to terms with the fact she has passed away, it still hasn’t sunk in.
“She was a really beautiful person in every way. She was really interested in the leisure and tourism industry, but she didn’t have a specific role that she wanted to take when she finished (university). My mother is torn apart. She is finding it difficult like most mothers would.”
He said it was good that all his mother’s family and friends had come to the house to support her in her time of need.
He said that the family had been up to Northampton and had spoken with police, adding: “They have started the investigation into why it happened and how it was allowed to happen as the circumstances in which it happened were unusual.”
Mr Msimbe said he wanted to know how the tragedy happened. He said the event was the third in of a series of nights out and that his sister had been to the other two, adding: “She wanted to see if it would be as good as the previous ones. She just wanted to have a good time with her friends.”
Police are investigating claims that a fire alarm prompted a stampede for the exits of the crowded club in St Peters Way in Northampton. Northamptonshire Police said two other women were taken to Northampton General Hospital with crush injuries and remained in a critical condition.
In a statement, Lava Ignite said: “The club management and staff are co-operating fully with the local police to find out exactly what happened. Our thoughts are with the family of those involved at this time.”