Shanghai stampede eyewitness account

China's President Xi Jinping has ordered an investigation into the cause of a stampede during New Year celebrations in Shanghai. 35 people were killed and another 42 injured.

US photographer Gabby Gabriel, who was at the scene, told Today's Sarah Montague: "As we got closer and closer to the river the mob started to grow larger and larger. The next thing we knew we were gridlocked."

"Some people were trying to move away from the river and some people were trying to go towards the river. There was no order whatsoever."

"At first it didn't seem so bad ..but then after midnight it really intensified and honestly I feared for my life."

First broadcast Today programme 1 January 2015.