During an inquest into the tragic death of ice hockey star Adam Johnson, it was revealed that paramedics faced significant challenges when responding to his fatal neck injury. Described as ‘chaotic’, the scene at the arena required emergency responders to climb over barriers to reach the injured player.

Johnson, a forward for the Nottingham Panthers, suffered a severe throat injury in a collision during an Elite Ice Hockey League Challenge Cup match held in Sheffield on October 28, 2023. Despite the paramedics’ efforts to rush him to the hospital, the 29-year-old American athlete was pronounced dead upon arrival.

During a preliminary inquest review in Sheffield, senior coroner Tanyka Rawden highlighted statements from Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics. These statements indicated the disorderly nature of the situation they encountered as they attempted to provide urgent medical attention to Johnson.

Coroner Rawden noted that one paramedic mentioned having to climb over barriers at Sheffield Arena to access the ice rink, as there was no one available to guide them directly onto the ice.

She further expressed her intent to investigate how the Yorkshire Ambulance Service evaluated the conditions on the ice on the night of Johnson’s untimely death, indicating that many questions remain regarding their response.

The coroner told the hearing that she had ‘a lot of questions about how Yorkshire Ambulance Service assessed the ice’ on the night of Mr Johnson’s death. 

Mrs Rawden said she also had questions about the availability of blood to paramedics attending the incident.

Mr Johnson’s mother, Sue, and his girlfriend, Ryan Wolfe, were among family members who joined the hearing on a video link from the United States. 

Adam Johnson died aged 29 after having his throat cut by a skate during a Elite Ice Hockey League Challenge Cup match in Sheffield (He is pictured playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019)

Paramedics have now said that they encountered a ‘chaotic scene’ while responding to the sportsman’s injury

The coroner told his family: ‘I’m sorry that we are meeting in these circumstances. I cannot imagine what life has been like for all of you since Adam died.’

She later added: ‘It must have been horrific for all of you.’

Mr Johnson’s fatal injury occurred after Sheffield Steelers defenceman Matt Petgrave’s skate sliced his neck. 

Petgrave, from Canada, was later arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided last year he would not face charges. 

Mr Petgrave’s barrister, Michael Hayton KC, told the hearing on Monday that the hockey player is currently in Canada.  

The coroner said she is planning to call Mr Petgrave and nine other players from the match to give evidence, but this is under review. She was told that none of these players are currently in the UK.

Mrs Rawden decided that the inquest will be heard in front of a jury and said ‘there is a lot of CCTV’ in this case.

‘Unfortunately – and I say that because it will be distressing for them – I think the jury is going to have to see some of the CCTV,’ she added.

But Mrs Rawden said that it is unlikely that the inquest into Mr Johnson’s death will take place this year.

She said she is aware there is pressure to hold it earlier but pointed out that her investigation had to be paused until the police inquiry was concluded last year.

The ice hockey star’s girlfriend Ryan Wolfe (pictured left with Johnson) was among family members who joined a pre-inquest review on Monday via video-link

Mrs Rawden said: ‘I’m not going to rush this. I have to conduct a fair and fearless investigation even if it takes time.

‘I understand how difficult this is for Adam’s family. He died in October 2023 and we are now in April 2026. I cannot imagine what it’s been like for them between these two dates.’

She said the inquest is currently expected to take between four and six weeks.

The coroner added that she would decide at a later date whether the inquest needs to be moved from Sheffield and, also, whether the jury would benefit from a visit to the arena.

Mrs Rawden decided that the scope of the inquest would focus on the cause of the injury, the medical provision at the arena, and the ‘timeliness and appropriateness’ of the medical care provided to Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnson’s death occurred in front of 8,000 horrified spectators at the Sheffield Arena.

Players formed a protective ring around the American as paramedics rushed to offer him support – but the star was pronounced dead at the city’s Northern General Hospital. 

In January 2024 it emerged that Mrs Rawden had issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) about the use of neck guards in the sport.

In that report, the coroner said she was ‘sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn’, with the bodies given 56 days to say what action had been taken – or why action had not been taken.

Neck guards have been mandatory in the Elite League (EIHL), in which the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, since January 1 2024.

This followed the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decision in December 2023 to mandate the use of neck laceration protectors for its competitions.

A provisional date for another pre-inquest review was set for October 29.