Witnesses have described a ‘bloodbath’ after a fan fell to their death from an upper level during a Goose concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday as the band confirm a ‘tragic event’
Horrifying scenes unfolded at a Madison Square Garden (MSG) concert on Saturday night as a person fell to their death from an upper level mid-concert.
The man has been identified as 51-year-old Paul Kueker, from Connecticut. He fell 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden during the Goose concert shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday.
“He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world,” Kueker’s mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post through tears. “He’d give you the shirt off his back.
Kueker attended the concert with his wife. They share two children together.
“He took care of me like I was a piece of gold,” Finelli said.
The incident unfolded as Goose, a rock band from Connecticut, was performing at MSG for the second night in a row.
Kueker was found “unconscious and unresponsive.” He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The band took to Instagram to confirm there had been a “tragic” medical emergency during the sold-out show.
Goose share statement after ‘tragic event’ at MSG
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that happened at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected,” they said in a statement. “Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support,” the band added.
Fans who were at the show claim that a concertgoer fell from the upper 200 or 300 level to level 100. The multi-tiered venue’s primary 100, 200, and 300 seating levels equate to the height of an average 10-story building.
One image of the alleged aftermath, shared by a concertgoer on Reddit, showed several seats caved in at the venue as police tape surrounded the scene.
“Someone fell. They took him away on a stretcher. They’re not letting us back in our section. They’re going in with mops and re-seating us. I’m section 102,” one witness wrote in a thread about the incident.
“I’m in 306, there was blood everywhere. You don’t wanna go back,” another responded. “Someone fell from the upper level into section 102. Horrible scene. Hope for the best but I was sitting two rows behind and it was not good,” someone else said.
“Not ok. Wheeled off and bloodbath,” another person said as they shared an image showing a large section of seats taped off.
Others recalled hearing a loud sound as the person fell. “In section 101, the thud was incredibly loud. All of us in sections 101, 102, and 103 are shaken pretty hard. it’s very uneasy here…. we hope he’s okay! it took them a long while to get him on the stretcher,” one said.
“I thought it was a balloon popping. that’s how loud it was,” a second commented. “Was 8 seats away. Heard felt and saw it,” another recalled.
The band reportedly played a second set following the incident after taking a lengthy break. Multiple witnesses reported that he was taken away by medics on a stretcher.
NYPD issue statement on deadly MSG fall
Police confirmed the fatal incident. “At approximately 9:51 p.m. inside Madison Square Garden, officers observed a 51-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive,” the NYPD told the New York Post.
Authorities have not released any details on the circumstances leading up to the fall.
