Fan who survived Hillsborough tragedy when just 13 trying to find stranger who saved his life

EXCLUSIVE: Fan who survived Hillsborough tragedy when just 13 trying to find stranger who saved his lifeFan who survived Hillsborough tragedy when just 13 launches appeal to find stranger who saved his life: Do you know the mystery supporter from Sheffield: email Andy.Lines@mirror.co.ukSportAndy Lines15:00, 11 Apr 2026Hillsborough survivor searching for the man who saved his lifeA football fan who survived the horrors of Hillsborough when he was just 13-years-old has made an emotional appeal to find the man who saved his life that day. Graeme Banfield is making his plea ahead of the 37th anniversary of the tragedy which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters.‌He recalled how a complete stranger - he believes was a Sheffield Wednesday fan - saved him and 16-year-old brother Paul’s lives on the Leppings Lane terrace that Saturday afternoon.‌He said simply: “Without this man there would have been 99 dead that day. He saved our lives. I know it’s 37 years on but I’d really like to find him to say ‘thank you’ and buy him a pint.‌View 8 ImagesLiverpool fan Graeme Banfield trying to find stranger who saved his life at Hillsborough(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)“I’d like to say thank you for taking us under your wing and looking after us - even though we were strangers a couple of hours before.” Graeme, 50, has never spoken about his ordeal before. But he went into counselling three years ago and has ended up writing a book. As a 13-year-old schoolboy he was attending his first ever Liverpool away match at the FA Cup semi final between the Reds and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium. His worried mum didn’t want her sons to go but reluctantly agreed after seeing their excitement at securing £6 terrace tickets through a family friend. As Graeme was speaking to the Mirror he read through his statement given back in 1989, which still contains gaps and blanks where police shockingly deleted sections.View 8 ImagesGraeme Banfield with his bro...