Coroner suspends inquest into demise of ice hockey star Adam Johnson
The coroner’s inquest into the demise of ice hockey star Adam Johnson has been suspended whereas police investigations proceed.
Johnson was fatally injured whereas taking part in for the Nottingham Panthers on October 28 of final 12 months. He was struck within the neck by an opponent’s skate throughout a match towards the Sheffield Steelers and later died in hospital aged 29.
An inquest was opened on November 3 and adjourned till Friday (January 26) following a listening to on the Medico-Legal Centre in Sheffield. After that, South Yorkshire Police arrested a person on suspicion of manslaughter, later releasing him on bail.
With their inquiries nonetheless ongoing, Sheffield’s senior coroner Tanyka Rawden has now suspended her work till later this 12 months.
(Image: NHLI through Getty Images)
In a press release, her workplace stated: “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.”
Speaking beforehand, Ms Rawden stated the preliminary investigation into Johnson’s demise had discovered: “Mr Johnson was seriously injured. He was taken by ambulance to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield where he died later that day as a result of the injuries sustained. He was identified by his fiancee, Ryan Wolfe.”
She additionally issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) relating to using neck guards within the sport.
(Image: Instagram/Ryan Wolfe)
Ms Rawden stated she was “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn”. The governing our bodies got 56 days to clarify what motion they’d taken, or why no motion had been taken.
The EIHA responded by making neck guards necessary from the beginning of this 12 months. However, the Elite League that the Panthers and Steelers play in just isn’t underneath its management.
They’ve not made the protecting gear necessary however have “strongly encouraged” its use for each gamers and officers.
