The fiancée of the ice hockey star who was fatally slashed during a game has paid tribute after the late athlete was laid to rest.
On Saturday (October 28), a freak accident saw the Panthers' Adam Johnson, 29, suffer from a severe neck injury that ultimately proved to be fatal during a Challenge Cup match between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers in England.
The match was promptly paused in the 35th minute as medics rushed in to tend to Johnson behind the privacy of screens on the ice. Spectators and the 8,000-strong crowd who witnessed the horrific incident were asked to vacate the Utilita Arena.
Tragically, the number 47 jersey succumbed to his injuries the following day.
A spokesperson for the South Yorkshire Police confirmed the devastating news in a statement that read: "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 the hospital.
"Our officers remain at the scene carrying out inquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing," they continued before concluding: "We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our inquiries."
After the shocking news of the sportsman's death was shared online, the Panthers took to social media to post an emotional tribute about the beloved man behind the 47 jersey.
"The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him. Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him," they penned, as cited by Sky News.
"The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam's family, his partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time. Everyone at the club including players, staff, management, and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam's passing," they added.
Johnson was laid to rest at a private ceremony on Sunday (November 5), attended by family and friends who have gathered to grieve the untimely loss.
The late ice hockey star was also memorialized on Monday afternoon (November 6) with a "celebration of life" at Memorial Building Arena in his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota.
His heartbroken fiancée, Ryan Wolfe - who ran onto the ice after the horrific accident - reposted a photo of Johnson uploaded by the Augsburger Panther page with an overlay text that read: "My sweet, sweet angel. I'll miss you forever and love you always."
She also paid another heartfelt tribute on Monday with the message: "Rest in peace my sweet boy. We love you so much."
Johnson's grieving family also published an emotionally charged obituary that is now available to read online.
A section of it reads: "Adam loved the outdoors and the simple things in life. He enjoyed yard work, fishing, golfing with buddies, playing in the Iron Ice hockey tournament, projects around the house, reading, following the stock market, and listening to his favorite music.
"Adam especially enjoyed his quiet coffee time with his fiancée Ryan, dreaming about their future, and taking in the mornings together. Adam loved to live a slower life and took pleasure in the small, everyday things."
It continued: "Simple pleasures Adam enjoyed were manually grinding his coffee beans, seeing the colors of each sunset, sitting lakeside by a bonfire with a glass of his favorite red wine, and trying out new dinner recipes."
The family shed light on Johnson's relationship with Wolfe in the touching post, penning: "Adam and Ryan were lucky enough to have had many travels and enjoyed taking in the beauty of the world together.
"From Christmas markets in Germany to pistachio gelato in Italy, Adam found something to love everywhere," they wrote. "Adam had a quiet confidence about him and was never boastful. He was never looking to be the center of attention, but rather he preferred to listen to others and do what he could to make them feel important.
"He was many things to many people, but to those who were lucky enough to be loved by Adam knew he was thoughtful, patient, and genuinely authentic," the family shared, before adding: "He loved his fiancée, family, and friends above all else. His loving and quiet demeanor will be eternally missed."
According to The Mirror, South Yorkshire Police officers are currently studying footage of the incident, and the investigation "is likely to take some time".
Our thoughts continue to be with Johnson's family and friends in the wake of this tragedy.
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