By Nick Martin, Sky News Correspondent
The police officer in charge during the Hillsborough disaster has described the moment he gave the go-ahead to open a side gate, which allowed around 2,000 fans into already crowded terraces, as a "shocking, almost terrifying moment".
Former chief superintendent David Duckenfield, the match commander, was giving evidence for a second day in the new inquests into Britain's worst sporting tragedy.
He described his decision that day as "grave mistake" and said he had "no option" but to open the gates.
Under cross-examination from Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquest, the retired officer said he did not realise where the fans would go once the gates were opened.
He told the inquest: "It is arguably one of the biggest regrets of my life that I did not foresee where fans would go when they came in through the gates.
"I was overcome by the enormity of the situation and the decisions I had to make and as a result of that - this is probably very hard to admit - as a result of that I was so overcome probably with emotion of us having got into that situation that my mind, for a moment, went blank."
It was a decision that led to a crush in pens three and four of the Leppings Lane stand and resulted in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans.
Mr Duckenfield said he had a conversation with second in command Superintendent Bernard Murray.
"He said if you don't open the gates someone is going to get killed and that really was a shocking, almost terrifying moment, to feel we'd got to that situation," he said.
"I said 'Mr Murray, if people are going to die, I have no option but to open the gates'."
Mr Duckenfield admitted he lied by not telling people after the match he had authorised the opening of the gate.
He said it was a "terrible" lie that he told because he was "deeply ashamed and embarrassed".
Mr Duckenfield turned to address the families of the victims directly from the witness box, and said: "I deeply regret what happened on the day, it was a major mistake on my part. I have no excuses.
"I apologise unreservedly to the families and I hope they believe it is a very very sincere apology."
Earlier in the hearing, the former policeman said he had held a briefing on the morning of the tragedy but had "no recollection" of what he did until 2pm, an hour before the start of the game.
Under cross-examination from Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquest, Mr Duckenfield declared it "remarkable" that he could not remember that period.
The 70-year old said he could not remember patrolling the stadium before the game but was "sure" he had looked at plans showing the layout, the inquest heard.
From the witness box Mr Duckenfield admitted that he had only a "basic knowledge" of the stadium.
Asked by Ms Lambert QC whether he "missed a golden opportunity" to patrol the ground prior to the match to learn about exits and stands, he replied: "I can't disagree with your suggestion but I am afraid I can't answer your question."
The inquest heard how Mr Duckenfield held a briefing on 14 April, the day before the match in which he wrote in a report and delivered, he said, word-for-word: "I cannot stress too highly the word safety.
"The ground will be full to capacity today and some of you may never have experienced a football match of this nature.
"Our job is to ensure the safety of spectators."
The jury was told that a police intelligence report said the behaviour of Liverpool fans in 1989 had been "quite good" but noted some incidents at away matches where Stanley knives and weapons had been discarded "a short distance from the turnstiles".
There were reports, the inquest was told, of "pickpockets and travelling thieves" attending matches.
He told the jury: "I had no personal evidence or major doubts that this match wouldn't pass off in a normal manner."
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