The family of the late ice hockey star has spoken out after a man was arrested for suspicion of manslaughter.
The sports industry was left stunned by the death of Adam Johnson, who tragically passed away at the age of 29 following an ice hockey game on October 28.
During the Challenge Cup match between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers, a Steelers player's skate blade came into contact with Johnson's neck, leaving him with a fatal cut.
The Panthers athlete was transported to a nearby hospital after the devastating neck injury, but sadly, he was pronounced dead the following day - with the South Yorkshire Police later revealing that a post-mortem examination confirmed that he passed away from a fatal neck injury.
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.
On Tuesday (November 14), UK authorities confirmed that a man has been apprehended over Johnson's death.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebecca Horsfall said in a statement to the press (via The Mirror): "We have been carrying out extensive inquiries to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances."
"We have been speaking to highly specialized experts in their field to assist in our inquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation."
"Adam's death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world," she added.
The suspect has now been released on bail, as reported by the BBC.
Before the suspect was released on bail, Johnson's aunt Kari spoke out and told The Mirror: "We're just going to have to let it play out and see what happens."
"Whatever they'd decided, I would have had to live with it. But I'm just glad they are being diligent with doing what they're supposed to be doing," Kari added.
Johnson was recently laid to rest in his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota with his family paying tribute to him in an emotional obituary.
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," they added.
Johnson's heartbroken fiancée, Ryan Wolfe - who ran onto the ice after the horrific accident - recently shared 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 with the message: "Rest in peace my sweet boy. We love you so much."
Following Johnson's unexpected passing, which the Panthers referred to in a statement as a "freak accident," The English Ice Hockey Association has mandated all players to wear neck guards for on-ice activities starting on December 31.
"It is unacceptable for any player to lose their life while playing sport," it said of its decision. "Our responsibility is not only to avert the recurrence of such a heart-breaking accident but also to pre-emptively address other foreseeable incidents in the future."
Our hearts continue to go out to eveyone affected by this tragedy.
