Adam Johnson’s fiancee paid tribute to her “sweet angel” after he died in a “freak accident” – as police continue to investigate the incident.
The 29-year-old American was on the ice for Nottingham Panthers when a skate slashed his neck in the Challenge Cup game against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night.
The 8,000-strong crowd in the Utilita Arena in South Yorkshire were asked to leave, and Johnson was later declared dead by paramedics.
Posting a picture of the player on Instagram, his fiancee Ryan Wolfe also wrote: “My sweet, sweet angel. I’ll miss you forever and love you always”.
Image: Adam Johnson in 2018. Pic: AP
It is widely reported the pair became engaged over the summer.
The Sun reported Ms Wolfe ran onto the ice in Sheffield after the incident, as players formed a protective ring around Johnson, shielding him from the crowd.
South Yorkshire Police are also now investigating the incident, with a spokesperson saying: “Officers attended the scene alongside other emergency services and one man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased at hospital. Our officers remain at the scene carrying out inquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.
“We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our inquiries.”
Fans leave tributes
Fans and players left tributes at Nottingham Panthers’ Motorpoint Arena on Sunday, after news emerged of Johnson’s death.
Flowers were laid at the venue, with those there expressing condolences over the incident.
One message left said: “Our hearts are breaking, you will be forever missed and forever in our hearts.”
There were also tributes left from Glasgow fans, whose team was due to play Nottingham on Tuesday. The match has been postponed.
Speaking to the hundreds of people who had turned up in Nottingham, assistant coach of the Panthers, Kevin Moore, said: “We really appreciate all of the support and tears and love.
“Our hearts break with all of yours. We are grieving this together as a team, as a community, as a city, and we’re going to get through this together with a lot of love, a lot of thought and a lot of laughter.”
‘It’s like a bad dream’
A witness at the arena called Hazel told The Sun newspaper she could not get what happened “out of my head”.
She said: “It is like a bad dream I can’t wake up from.
“Suddenly during the match, the blade struck the player’s throat and there was blood everywhere. He tried to get to the side of the arena but came crashing down.
“His teammates looked horrified and banded together around him to shield him from the crowd. They were amazing.
“We were all praying and hoping he would make it, but sadly he didn’t. Our hearts go out to his family and friends and teammates
“I cannot imagine how they are feeling. We are feeling absolutely numb ourselves. It was a freak accident, totally tragic, and no one was to blame.”
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Before joining Nottingham Panthers, the Minnesota-born Johnson played in Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Sweden for the Malmo Redhawks.
He also played in California for Ontario Reign, who have since paid tribute to their former player, and in Germany for Augsburger Panther.
‘Forever in our hearts’
After Johnson’s tragic incident, Ontario Reign made a moving tribute before the club’s American Hockey League game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday.
Johnson’s name was announced to the crowd as his number 49 jersey was placed on a chair in the middle of the ice by former Nottingham player Jacob Doty.
Every Ontario player touched the jersey in a moving gesture, with a video of the gesture posted on their social media accounts with the caption “forever in our hearts”.
Two people who died following a fire at a caravan site near Skegness have been named by police.
Lincolnshire Police said 48-year-old Lee Baker and his 10-year-old daughter Esme Baker, both from the Nottingham area, were killed in the blaze.
However, formal identification is still yet to take place and “could take some time”, the force said.
Emergency services were alerted to a fire at Golden Beach Holiday Park, in the village of Ingoldmells, at 3.53am on Saturday.
In a statement issued through police, a member of the Baker family said: “Lee and Esme were excited to be spending the first weekend of the holidays together.
“We are all utterly devastated at what’s happened.
“This loss is incomprehensible at the moment, and we ask for people to give us space to process this utterly heartbreaking loss.”
A GoFundMe page set up for the victims’ family described the father and daughter as “two peas in a pod” who were “both happy-go-lucky people who loved life”. It has so far raised more than £3,000.
The police force, together with Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Detective Inspector Lee Nixon said: “We believe we might be close to arriving at a working hypothesis.
“We are working hard to validate the facts available to us to be able to provide answers for the family and loved ones of those who were very tragically taken by this fire.
“Yet the evident intensity of the fire has made this task incredibly challenging.”
Dan Moss, from Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family at this time.
“Our Fire Investigation Team is working with colleagues from Lincolnshire Police, and a full investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
“Once investigations are complete, local fire crews and our community fire safety team will be on hand to talk to people in the area and address any fire safety concerns they may have, at what will be an upsetting time.”
A man has been arrested by police investigating a “significant” wildfire that triggered a major incident in Northern Ireland.
More than 100 firefighters and 15 fire appliances were deployed on Saturday to Sandbank Road, Hilltown, to tackle the blaze which is believed to have been caused deliberately, fire chiefs said.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”.
It was extinguished at 2.53am on Sunday and the major incident status lifted, the NIFRS said.
“The cause of this fire is believed to have been deliberate,” chief fire and rescue officer Aidan Jennings said.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Sunday that a 25-year-old man had been arrested “on suspicion of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and non-related driving offences”.
“He remains in custody at this time as enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the fire,” the force added.
Image: The wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown. Pic: Sky Watch NI
Image: More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire. Pic: Sky Watch NI
On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.
Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”
Image: Moors Valley Country Park blackened by fires this week
Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.
In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.
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Wildfires spread across nature reserve
Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.
Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.
Police are investigating after a man was shot dead in County Durham.
Officers were called to an address in Elm Street, Stanley, at about 5.20pm on Saturday after reports of a “disturbance”, Durham Constabulary said.
A man in his 50s was found to have been shot and despite the efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family have been told and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Specialist crime scene investigators are at the scene, and officers are carrying out house-to-house enquiries.
A cordon is in place and is expected to stay there for some time.
Detective Superintendent Neil Fuller said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which a man has been shot and has sadly died.”
He added: “Residents may see an increased police presence in the area. I would like to thank them for their support while we carry out this investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this time.”