A quick-thinking Government Minister was among those who rushed to help the injured last night after horses stampeded through the crowds for the first Harbour Nights show.

Minister of Cultural Affairs, Wayne Perinchief, was said by eyewitnesses to have helped lift the carriage off at least eight people who were trapped underneath.

Philip Barnett, who will become president of the Chamber of Commerce next week, described how the drama unfolded.

“I was right there when it happened. People were yelling but the spectators could not hear them and didn’t realise the horses were charging. They were moving so fast and in full gallop,” he said.

“It all happened so fast but people really pulled together. I was right at the front and helped pull the carriage off people with Minister Perinchief.

“Once we lifted it, we saw there were eight or nine people under it and there seemed to be some pretty serious injuries.

“I am extremely worried because three of the people were not moving, they seemed to have the very serious injuries.”

Mr. Perinchief, a former Assistant Police Commissioner, could not be reached after news of the role he played emerged last night.

However, earlier in the evening he described how a team of local men and visitors quickly got under the carriage and hoisted it into the air.

“The response from the crowd was just stupendous,” he said. “People were very helpful. They got under the carriage and some Bermudian men held the horses and led them away.”

Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said about 20 people helped to lift the carriage.

Glenn Doers, of event organisers Spanish Town Entertainment, said: “The horses fell and then they got up and people held onto them and they calmed right down. They stood themselves up and people had them by the reins and were patting them and calming them down.

“There was a great sense of community. There was just an overwhelming sense of community and support for the injured.”