The family of a young Sydney woman who was crushed to death in a deadly Halloween crowd surge in South Korea has said the 23-year-old was a "gorgeous angel" who lit up a room with her "infectious smile".
Film producer Grace Rached, 23, is one of the 153 people who were killed when a huge Halloween party crowd surged into a narrow alley in a nightlife district in Seoul on Saturday night.
Rached had been on holiday in South Korea and would have turned 24 next week.
READ MORE: Australian among more than 150 dead in Halloween stampede in South Korea
"We are missing our gorgeous angel Grace who lit up a room with her infectious smile," her family said in a statement.
"Grace always made others feel important and her kindness left an impression on everyone she ever met. Grace always cared about others and she was loved by all.
"Grace was a talented film producer who was passionate about making a difference.
"She cared deeply about her two sisters and was a wonderful role model. Grace showed us all what it meant to be an incredible human being.
"We will all deeply miss our beautiful Grace, our life of the party."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sent his condolences to Rached's family.
"These were people who were out celebrating Halloween, out to have a good time and to come home safely," he said.
"This tragedy has impacted people in South Korea in particular. But it has also impacted, in the harshest way possible, one Australian family and other Australians who were hurt in this incident.
"We just wish all of those people a very speedy recovery."
A number of other Australians were injured in the crowd crush however the federal government has not yet confirmed details.
EXPLAINED: How and why do crowd surges turn deadly?
'It was a slow, agonising crush': Victim's friend blames lack of planning
Australian man Nathan Taverniti paid an emotional tribute to Rached and two other friends who were left in a critical condition after the horrific crush.
Taverniti told Yonhap News Agency he and Rached were on holiday in South Korea and that he searched for her body for hours.
"I was there when she said she couldn't breathe and I grabbed one of my friends' hands," Taverniti said, wiping away tears in a TikTok video.
He rejected any idea there was a "stampede" in Seoul's most cosmopolitan district, an area long popular among foreign residents and tourists that has become an increasingly well-known place to celebrate Halloween.
"It was a slow, agonising crush. This crush was not caused by drunk people. It was lack of planning, police force and emergency services," Taverniti said.
"And nobody was willing to help. I watched as people filmed and sang and laughed while my friends were dying, along with many other people.
"I was there trying to pull people out because there was not enough police officers and nobody was doing anything to make the crowd stop.
"We were yelling, we were saying 'you have to go back, you have to turn around, people are dying', but nobody was listening."
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Tens of thousands flocked to Itaewon
In recent years, the days around Halloween have seen Itaewon's lively streets filled with partygoers – expat and Korean alike – dressed up in holiday costumes. Those festivities continued even during the pandemic, which temporarily dampened Itaewon's nightlife after several cases were traced to the area's nightclubs and other venues.
Officials believe tens of thousands of revellers flocked to Itaewon on Saturday, in one of the biggest gatherings since the country removed most of its COVID-19 restrictions in recent months.
Witnesses said the streets were so densely clogged with people and slow-moving vehicles that it was practically impossible for emergency workers and ambulances to arrive in time, leaving them helpless to prevent the situation from developing into the country's worst disaster in years.
Taverniti said it took half an hour for police to arrive, another hour for reinforcements and even longer for other emergency services.
"This is how long it took to free my friends. two of my friends thankfully survived. But many, many others did not," he said, adding that it took hours more to find his dead friend's body.
"There were people lying on the ground getting CPR, not by health professionals, by random people, whoever could.
"I am sad. I am devastated by the situation which could have so easily been avoided, but nobody would listen."
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On Saturday night, emergency workers were seen rushing to carry the injured and dead out in stretchers as ambulances lined up in the streets and a chaotic crowd fled the area.
Witnesses said the crowd surge caused "a hell-like" chaos as people fell on each other "like dominoes."
"I still can't believe what has happened. It was like a hell," said Kim Mi Sung, an official at a nonprofit organisation that promotes tourism in Itaewon.
Death toll at 153 but officials warn it could further rise
As of Sunday evening, officials put the death toll at 153 and the number of injured people at 133. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said the death count could further rise as 37 of the injured people were in serious conditions.
Ninety-seven of the dead were women and 56 were men. More than 80 per cent of the dead were in their 20s and 30s, but at least four were teenagers.
At least 20 of the dead are foreigners from China, Russia, Iran and elsewhere.
While there's not widespread Western-style trick-or-treat activities in South Korea, Halloween-themed parties and events have become increasingly popular among young South Koreans, and Itaewon is the country's hottest spot for such events, where bars, clubs and restaurants hold costume competitions.
Australians concerned about the welfare of loved ones can call DFAT's Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135. Those outside Australia can call +61 2 6261 3305.
