A professional ice hockey player has died at the age of 29 following a 'freak accident' during a game.
Adam Johnson, who played for the Nottingham Panthers, passed away during a match against the Sheffield Steelers at the Utilita Arena on Saturday night (28 October).
The American was believed to have been slashed in the neck by an ice hockey blade of a Sheffield Steelers' player, as he tried to tackle another one of Mr Johnson's teammates.
The 8,000 spectators in attendance were asked to leave the stadium after the incident was declared a 'major medical emergency'.
Witnesses have since described how players from both teams formed a ring around Johnson after he suffered the fatal injury as a mark of respect and privacy.
The tragic accident happened in the 35th minute of the game, with medics immediately rushing onto the ice.
The 29-year-old was then rushed to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, where he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Johnson's heartbroken mother Kari said: "I lost half of my heart tonight."
While the Nottinghams Panthers said in a statement: "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. The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him.
"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."
In the wake of the tragedy, The Elite Ice Hockey League announced that all games on Sunday would be postponed.
South Yorkshire Police claimed they were called to the arena at around 8.25pm on Saturday night, after reports that a player had been seriously injured.
Officers are said to have remained at the scene today.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service said in a statement last night: "We were called at 8:21 this evening to the Sheffield Steelers game at Sheffield arena.
"We attended a male and sent two ambulances and a critical care paramedic, and we sent one patient to hospital."
Following the incident, the Panther's home ground, Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, paid tribute to Johnson on social media.
They tweeted: "Our heartfelt thoughts go out to Adam Johnson, his loved ones, all the Panthers players, staff, fans and the whole ice hockey community, following his horrific injury this evening."
Minnesota-born Johnson originally made a name for himself in North America's National Hockey League (NHL), while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He then moved to Sweden where he played for the Malmo Redhawks, before enjoying spells with Canada's Ontario Reign and Germany's Augsburger Panther.
Johnson joined the UK's Nottingham Panthers in August.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Ice Hockey
Joe Adams