These are the two men who died in a freak accident when they became trapped beneath a large glass panel while unloading it from a lorry at a non-league football club’s ground.
Yasir Ali and Muhammad Zafar – pictured here for the first time – died suddenly on Saturday afternoon while removing cargo from an HGV in an overflow car park at Hitchin Football Club in Hertfordshire.
A third man who was working with the pair was also seriously injured and is now in hospital where it’s understood doctors are contemplating having to amputate one of his arms.
Mr Ali, 34, from Luton, and Mr Zafar, 33, from Dunstable, were friends and were both attending the University of Hertfordshire as international students originally from Pakistan.
Emergency services were called at around 2pm following reports of the men being trapped under the panel of glass but were unable to save Mr Ali and Mr Zafar who both died at the scene.
It remains unclear how the men came to be working in the area or for whom, as Hitchin FC has denied they had employed the three men.
A police cordon has been erected at the carpark, which is co-owned by Hitchin FC and the town’s historic Cow Commoner’s Trust, with detectives saying they are in the ‘early stages’ of their investigation.
An inquest at Hertfordshire’s coroner’s court will be held once all details from that police investigation and from the Health and Safety Executive’s inquiries are available.
Yasir Ali (pictured) and Muhammad Zafar died suddenly on Saturday afternoon while removing cargo from an HGV in an overflow car park at Hitchin Football Club in Hertfordshire
Mr Ali, 34, from Luton, and Mr Zafar (pictured), 33, from Dunstable, were friends and were both attending the University of Hertfordshire as international students originally from Pakistan
Emergency services were called at around 2pm following reports of the men being trapped under the panel of glass but were unable to save Mr Ali and Mr Zafar who both died at the scene (pictured)
Imam Qazi Abdul Aziz Chishti, founder of the Jamia Islamia Ghousia Trust, told the Daily Mail that once the men’s bodies are released by the coroner, he will help arrange their funerals.
He said the funerals will either take place in Luton or in the men’s home country of Pakistan, with Mr Ali’s parents living in the capital Lahore and Mr Zafar’s parents living in the large city of Multan.
Mr Ali was one month away from completing his year long master’s in project management at Hertfordshire University having previously obtained a degree in construction engineering from a university in Lahore.
A friend of Mr Ali, Muhammad Aqib Yasin said: ‘It is with deep sorrow that we share the tragic news of the passing of Yasir Ali and one of his friends, both international students at the University of Hertfordshire from Pakistan.
‘The incident occurred while they were unloading a container filled with glass. Tragically, the glass collapsed during the process, resulting in the deaths of Yasir and his friend Muhammad. The other friend survived the accident.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this time of immense grief.’
Another friend, Mirha Ch, wrote on Facebook: ‘There has been a tragic incident involving international student from University of Hertfordshire Yasir Ali.
‘I am deeply saddened to share the news of the tragic passing of Yasir Ali. Yasir was a student in my class and he was such a nice soul.’
It remains unclear how the men came to be working in the area or for whom, as Hitchin FC (pictured) has denied they had employed the three men
Almost a week on from the horrific accident, many questions surrounding the student’s death remain unanswered.
Haulage company Martello, whose lorry remains at the scene, confirmed that one of its drivers had been transporting a shipping container from Southampton Port to the stadium.
The driver, who was left ‘shaken up’, had no role in unloading and was sitting in the cab of the lorry unaware of the horror unfolding behind him until one of the five workers knocked on his door.
Trustees from Hitchin FC, who rent the land from the Cow Commoner’s Trust, have said they did not employ the workers.
Tributes have flooded in for the two international students following their deaths on Saturday.
The Imam also was unaware of who had contracted the two men to work.
Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue confirmed to the Daily Mail yesterday that the two men were tragically trapped underneath the glass they were unloading.
A spokesman for the service said: ‘The thoughts of all at Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service are with the family and friends of the two men who tragically died on Saturday.
Haulage company Martello, whose lorry (pictured) remains at the scene, confirmed that one of its drivers had been transporting a shipping container from Southampton Port to the stadium
‘We were called at approximately 2pm on Saturday, September 6, 2025, following reports of persons trapped near to Hitchin Town Football Club.
‘A large glass panel had fallen from a container lorry, trapping two male workers beneath it. Despite the immediate efforts of emergency services, including police, ambulance, and critical care paramedics, both men were sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.’
‘The service is now liaising with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of the ongoing investigation.’
The HSE told the Daily Mail that because the premises are enforced by North Herts Council, they will not be involved. The council will begin its investigation once police have left.
Those working nearby described scenes of chaos as emergency services swarmed to the scene at around 2pm after receiving calls that two men had been injured.
One man who ran out of his nearby business when he heard the sirens told the Daily Mail: ‘I was in the office and I just heard the sirens so I came out and some of the boys were shouting.
‘They were in complete shock. One of them told me that a glass mirror was being unloaded and two of the men died. There were around four or five working there at the time.’
As well as large glass panels, metal fencing and poles were also being unloaded from the lorry.
Those working nearby described scenes of chaos as emergency services swarmed to the scene (pictured) at around 2pm after receiving calls that two men had been injured
One resident who lives close to the scene said: ‘It is absolutely awful what happened, I don’t even want to think about it is so horrible. Obviously it was a freak thing.’
Councillor Ian Allen, who represents North Hertfordshire District Council on the Cow Commoner’s Trust, told the Daily Mail: ‘Obviously a lot of questions remain about why the lorry was on the land in the first place.
‘But right now the main thing is that the families of those men are being supported and that the police are able to carry out their investigation into what went on.’
According to the transport company’s director Ivan Smith, the lorry driver’s job was to transport a shipping container picked up from Southampton Port to the football club’s grounds.
The football club has said it ‘knows very little about the accident’ while another businessman who worked on the site said ‘they were not related to the football club’.
Mr Smith also added he knew very little about how the incident happened.
Mr Smith said: ‘Our driver sat in his truck for several hours while the men involved in the unloading process were working.
‘He had no idea that something had gone wrong until one of the men knocked on his door to say there had been an accident.’
According to the transport company’s director Ivan Smith, the lorry driver’s job was to transport a shipping container picked up from Southampton Port and to the football club’s grounds. Pictured: police at the scene
He added: ‘Other than the description we get given, we often have no idea about what kind of cargo are in these shipping containers as they are sealed when we arrive.’
Mr Smith added that the delivery was made to Hitchin FC, but he had ‘no idea’ whether the men unloading the container had been employed by the club or another company had been outsourced to do the work.
Hertfordshire Police told the Daily Mail that the men who died were ‘helping someone out so [were] not employed’ when the accident happened.
Just weeks ago, the Cow Commoner’s Trust and Hitchin FC had announced plans to redevelop the site, known as Top Field, as a wider asset for the community.
Hitchin FC said in a statement: ‘Unfortunately, there was a tragic accident on land adjacent to the football ground on Saturday that resulted in the fatality of 2 people.
‘At this stage we know very little about the actual details of the accident and the police have taken control of the incident and their enquiries are ongoing.
‘We would like to send our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to their families at this very sad and difficult time.’
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: ‘Police attended an incident in the Hitchin Town Football Club car park at approximately 2pm on Saturday 6 September, following reports that two men were seriously injured.
Just weeks ago, the Cow Commoner’s Trust and Hitchin FC (pictured, file photo) had announced plans to redevelop the site, known as Top Field, as a wider asset for the community
‘The men, who were unloading glass panels from a lorry parked in the overflow car park, were injured in the process.
‘Two men sadly died at the scene. Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers. A third man sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
‘The incident is currently under investigation and enquiries continue.’
East of England Ambulance Service said it sent two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle, a critical care paramedic car and a community first responder to the stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Five days on from the accident, a large police cordon remains in place on the football club’s grounds, with police officers monitoring the site.
A white Volvo lorry, owned by Kent-based Martello Transport, has been abandoned, while piles of unloaded boxes and metal frames lie on the grass.
The football club – who are one of England’s oldest with roots back to 1865 – are at the heart of the wealthy market town’s community.
Their game this weekend against St Albans City in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round is scheduled to go ahead as normal, with the club saying in a statement that they are ‘are expecting a large attendance’.
