TWO off-duty paramedics had to step in and help treat overheated Stereophonics fans after they fainted in sweltering conditions at the Oasis Leisure Centre on Wednesday night.

Concert-goers told of overcrowding, a lack of security checks and long queues to get drinks despite the extreme heat, with the band forced to stop during their final song to ensure one member of the audience was taken care of.

Abi Morgan, an advanced ambulance practitioner attending with her partner, a paramedic, described the event as “an absolute and utter shambles”.

“Doors weren’t open to allow fresh air into the venue ‘because of the acoustics’”, she said.

“One chap was bought out looking very poorly indeed. We couldn’t stand by and watch so offered our services as off-duty members of the ambulance service.

“There was no oxygen, no heart monitoring equipment, all the stuff you’d expect to see being used by qualified event paramedics.

“Luckily, we had all of our own equipment in our car.

“We treated four members of the public – that’s four people too many.”

The South Western Ambulance Service recorded one call to the Oasis, but said it was not related to the heat or overcrowding.

The venue has a capacity of 3,000 standing and 1,600 seated.

Others described seeing crowd members collapse.

Sales assistant Tracie Lea, who was there with her husband, said: “The girl in front of us hit the deck.

“A guy behind us hit the deck. I didn’t see any first aid, I saw a lot of security but I saw nobody else.”

Tracie said her entry stamp wasn’t checked as she entered.

Rick Bartlett, a builder who attended with his partner and son, said: “The band were fantastic but it was so poorly organised.

“I thought there would be security checks but there was nothing, it was an accident waiting to happen. It’s absolutely appalling.”

He also complained about the the queues to get drinks at the bar to relieve the effects of the heat.

He said: “My son went off for a drink and was gone for 55 minutes, he missed 10 songs but he was so thirsty that he didn’t want to give up and turn back. It was so hot.

“What should have been a fantastic night was marred by security issues, that’s my main concern.”

A spokesman for Greenwich Leisure Ltd, which runs the venue, said: “The Stereophonics gig at The Oasis Leisure Centre was at capacity but not over capacity. It was a humid summer evening and the venue did become hot.

“Free water was available and the crowd was sprayed with water to keep temperatures down.

“We also opened doors to improve air flow.

“We understand that one member of the public was taken to hospital after overheating/feeling unwell.

“There were 10 qualified first aiders onsite throughout the event along with a specialist security firm and the event was operated within health and safety guidelines.

“We do however recognise that there may be areas that we can improve, including traffic flow, the bar service and more clearly identifying first aiders.

“We will therefore be conducting a full internal review and will implement any learnings.”