Okay I was at the barrier for Glastonbury, and the mosh was pretty big where I was. Lots of people being taken out, I saw people faint, I know of someone who broke 2 ribs and a hip there.
But you have to be pretty unlucky for that, plus it's more dangerous if you're a few rows back from the barrier because people are all around you. Also, there was a bigger crowd at Glastonbury and a fair few drunk people.
Being at the barrier, I could get air, I had no one in front of me, I could lean into the barrier and push back a little bit every so often so I could have a tiny bit of space. I did have some guy digging his elbow into my neck at times, I don't think he heard what I said quite loudly to him, but I kept leaning back to push him off and he stopped in the end, haha.
I came away with slightly bruised arms and rather bruised hips but it wasn't really awful or anything, I thought I'd get hurt more because I'm about 5 foot 4 inches tall and quite a slim build, but it was okay.
I loved every minute of the barrier, I thought it was great fun and rather hilarious at times :')
I think you're best to be at the barrier rather than a few rows back from the barrier, but that's only me judging from being at the barrier for Glastonbury. I was at the barrier for Seasick Steve, The Dead Weather, Shakira, Scissor Sisters and Muse, it was okay for those acts up until Scissor Sisters finished, when there was probably a mad rush of people coming to see Muse, and that's when people started to get crushed, and some people hurt. It was like it all through Muse's set, but I have to say, after the initial 10 minutes of thinking "dhsfohd ouch, fdosdhsahd why can't people back off a bit? fishdfsfsdaf let's start singing any random songs that come into our heads to get others to join in (which they did) and have a laugh" you get used to it and it all got funny.
I've never been to the barrier at one of Muse's own concerts before so I don't know how different or similar it is there.
Wow I just wrote a boring essay. I'll be waiting for all the "cool story bro" responses now <3