Man arrested over loss of life of ice hockey participant Adam Johnson in Sheffield

A person has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the loss of life {of professional} ice hockey participant Adam Johnson.

Mr Johnson, 29, was significantly injured throughout a Challenge Cup match between his Nottingham Panthers group and Sheffield Steelers on 28 October.

The American’s neck was reduce by the skate blade of one other participant on the ice in Sheffield and he was later pronounced useless in hospital.

A autopsy examination confirmed the Minnesota-born star died on account of a deadly neck harm.

The crowd of 8,000 spectators at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena watched in horror as determined makes an attempt had been made to save lots of his life as he lay on the ice, shielded by fellow gamers.

The sport was deserted and spectators had been requested to depart within the aftermath.

Mr Johnson’s aunt, Kari Johnson, informed Sky News on Tuesday the household was “doing terribly because of the senseless tragedy”.

“We just want our boy back and we know we can’t have him.”

The American joined the Panthers in August having beforehand performed in Germany and Sweden in addition to within the US National Hockey League (NHL).

South Yorkshire Police mentioned the suspect, whose title has not been launched, stays in custody after being arrested on Tuesday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall mentioned: “Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive enquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances.”

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Ms Johnson was watching her nephew play for the Panthers through a livestream along with his father and grandmother when he was fatally injured.

Speaking from Minnesota, Ms Johnson beforehand informed Sky News: “It was terrible, it was horrific, we didn’t know what to do.” There was “nothing we could do”, she mentioned.

She additionally described how the household “broke down” after listening to he had died.

She mentioned: “It was a mess, it was a nightmare, it was like it wasn’t real. We were in shock, we couldn’t believe this was happening.”

Ms Johnson described her nephew as a “kind soul” and a “private kid” who would “never would have wanted to be in the limelight like this”.

He merely wished to be “good at hockey and have fun”, she mentioned, including he was “having the time of his life in the UK” and was planning to get engaged to his girlfriend.

An inquest into Mr Johnson’s loss of life was opened and adjourned on 3 November, however Sheffield’s senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, has already referred to as on the game’s governing our bodies to take motion.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA), Ms Rawden mentioned she was “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn”.

The EIHA mentioned neck guards will turn into necessary from 2024, however the Elite League isn’t below its management.

The Elite Ice Hockey League, wherein the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, has mentioned it is not going to make the usage of neck guards necessary however will “strongly encourage” gamers and officers to put on them following the tragedy.