Coroner suspends investigation into death of ice hockey player killed after throat slash mid-game
An inquest into the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been suspended.
The Nottingham Panthers player was killed in October, when he was accidentally hit in the neck during a match against the Sheffield Steelers.
Johnson, who was aged 29, died in hospital following the incident.
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The American hockey player suffered a cut to the neck during the match, with more than 8,000 fans watching from the sidelines.
According to witnesses, players from both the Sheffield and Nottingham teams quickly formed a ring around Johnson after he suffered the fatal injury.
The derby game was paused in the 35th minute as medics rushed in to tend to the player.
Sheffield senior coroner Tanyka Rawden opened an inquest into Johnson's death last year, but since then, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and has since been released on bail.
The inquest has now been suspended following a review. The suspension will last until July of this year, unless South Yorkshire Police determine that there will be no homicide charges made in relation to the hockey player's death.
In a statement, the coroner's office said: “HM Senior Coroner has reviewed the progress of the investigation into the death of Adam Johnson today, January 26 2024.
“Since the opening of the inquest on November 3 2023, detectives from South Yorkshire Police have arrested and questioned a man on suspicion of manslaughter."
The statement continued: “The suspect has been released on police bail while the investigation continues.
“In light of the fact a person may be charged with a homicide offence involving the death of the deceased, HM Senior Coroner has suspended her investigation into Mr Johnson’s death under Paragraph 1(2)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
“The relevant period for the purposes of Paragraph 1(4)(b) and Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 will be 26 weeks, namely July 26 2024.
“If South Yorkshire Police determine before July 26 2024 that no person will be charged with a homicide offence involving the death of the deceased, the coroner will resume her investigation upon receiving notification of that decision.”
While the inquest has been paused, Rawden previously issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) about using neck guards in the sport.
Rawden said she was 'sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn'.
The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) has said that neck guards will become mandatory from 2024 onwards, but it cannot control the Elite Ice Hockey League where the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete.
The league said it would not be making neck guards mandatory but would 'strongly encourage' players to wear them.
Lucy Devine