Sam Gilang rushed to the exit of the Indonesian football stadium with thousands of other terrified spectators as police fired tear gas and beat fans with batons, sparking a stampede that killed at least 174 people.

“People pushed each other and … many were trampled on the way to the exit gate,” the 22-year-old survivor told AFP.

Spectators – including women and children – bumped and kicked each other, gasping for air as they climbed through the crowded terrace to reach each exit of Kanjuruhan Stadium in the city of Malang, East Java.

Many of the victims were trampled or suffocated in one of the worst disasters in sporting history, according to police.

Gilang lost three friends in the scrum. “It was so terrifying, so shocking,” he said.

A domino effect of tragedy unfolded after the final whistle as visiting side Persebaya Surabaya – bitter rivals of Malang City’s Arema FC – won 3-2.

Several thousand fans took to the pitch – some angry, others wanting to join the crowd to shake hands with the players of home side Arema FC after losing to their strong rivals.

With horns blaring and profanities yelled at by the police from the crowd, they watched as their fellow fans ran across the lawn.

But police tried to force fans back into the cramped stands, hustling them with their batons and riot shields.

They then unleashed a hail of tear gas on the terraces in front of exit gates 12 and 13 of the stadium.

Police said there was a “riot,” but some witnesses dismissed this description of events.

“There was no riot. I don’t know what the problem was, they suddenly launched tear gas,” 43-year-old viewer Doni, who declined to give his last name, told AFP.

“That shocked me, didn’t you think about children, women?”

Panic set in as the canisters rained down, prompting hundreds to rush to the trailheads.

“Smoke spread everywhere, I got hit and panicked. The exit was already too full. I was confused and scared which one to take,” said 17-year-old Fian, who declined to give his last name.

Eyes burning and short of breath, Fian recalled people yelling at each other, “Escape through the emergency exit on your left!” — possibly leading hundreds to a door only wide enough for one person.

Those who managed to get out came out of the stadium with lifeless bodies, sparking anger among the escaped spectators.

Fans threw every object they could find – rocks, plastic bottles – at police as officers attempted to leave the stadium.

Angry fans crashed police cars and trucks on their heads and set them on fire in revenge for what happened.

“The police were so arrogant they could have just directed the supporters,” Gilang said. “It is enough to use the batons, no use of tear gas.”

Back at the stadium, one of Gilang’s friends lay dead in the home team’s dressing room, carried there after being trampled to death.

Immediately afterwards, Indonesia grapples with its own Hillsborough moment – the 1987 England disaster that resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans during an FA Cup semi-final.

President Joko Widodo said an investigation into the Indonesian tragedy will follow, as well as a security review of all football matches – which will be suspended until “security improvements” are completed.

But improvements or not, “now my parents have said I can’t watch football anymore,” said survivor Fian.