A school secretary from Missouri tragically lost her life following a head injury caused by a crowd surfer at a rock concert.
Danielle Uskiwich, aged 28, succumbed to her injuries on a Tuesday, 10 days after she was unintentionally kicked in the head by another attendee during a performance by the band Sleep Theory at Pointfest in Maryland Heights, Missouri, on May 16, according to her family’s statement.
“With hearts completely broken, we announce that our beloved Danielle passed away on May 26th at 1:54 PM,” her cousins shared on GoFundMe on Wednesday.
Uskiwich, who worked as an attendance secretary at St. Charles High School, just six miles from the concert location, initially dismissed the injury. However, she was hospitalized three days later due to a severe headache.
Medical professionals discovered that a brain bleed had formed, likely a result of the kick from the crowd surfer.
During her week-long stay in the hospital, Uskiwich endured two strokes and underwent emergency surgery. Doctors removed six pints of blood and multiple blood clots in their efforts to save her.
Uskiwich’s family revealed that an unidentified “underlying condition” was discovered during the surgery that could have gone unnoticed if it weren’t for the brain bleed.
Uskiwich was placed into a medically induced coma to reduce swelling to the brain while the rest of her body recovered after the May 22 procedure.
Uskiwich made one last heroic gesture before her death by donating her organs.
“Even through unimaginable grief, Danielle’s immediate family made the incredibly selfless decision to honor her giving spirit through organ donation so that others may have a second chance at life,” the grieving relatives wrote.
Uskiwich was honored with a “beautiful honor walk” through the hospital, surrounded by family, friends and hospital staff on Tuesday afternoon, before she was transported to St. Louis’ Mid-America Transplant for the organ donation, according to her family.
Uskiwich had celebrated her engagement to her fiancé, Jason, in August 2025, and the couple had planned to get married in April.
“We have a long road ahead of us, but we’re going to get there! There’s no one tougher in the would to get through this,”Jason wrote on May 23. “I love you so many!! You have 11 months to get ready for the aisle, baybos!”
Uskiwich was also remembered as a lifelong St. Louis Blues fan with her favorite player being TJ Oshie, and for her love of music and traveling.
“Danielle was loved by so many. She had the kindest heart, a beautiful smile, and a spirit that could light up any room, and she was the kind of person people naturally gravitated toward because of her warmth, humor, and the way she made others feel seen and loved,” her family wrote.
Pointfest is the annual music festival hosted by local alternative rock radio station 105.1 “The Point” held at the 20,000-seat Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 22 miles from Downtown St. Louis.
Headliner Staind closed the show after performances from Blue October, Mammoth, Highly Suspect and Sleep Theory other bands.
The venue holds 7,000 seats in partially covered general admission with an additional capacity for 13,000 in the lawn seating.
