Former Pittsburgh Penguins player dies after his throat was slashed by a skate in a 'freak accident' during a game

• A US ice-hockey player in the UK died after a skate slashed his throat during a game. He was 29.
• Adam Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers when the "freak accident" took place.

Adam Johnson, a US ice-hockey player, died after a skate cut his throat during a cup match on Saturday. He was 29.

Johnson was playing for the UK's Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers when the skate blade struck him in the neck.

In a Facebook post, his mother, Kari Johnson, said she had "lost half of my heart" because it had been confirmed that her son had died.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Panthers organization wrote that it was "truly devastated" to announce that Johnson had died following the "freak accident."

"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," it said.

"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 post said.

The Elite Ice Hockey League confirmed that it had postponed all Sunday games following the "deeply upsetting news."

The "freak accident" at the Utilita Arena Sheffield reportedly left many of the 8,000 spectators in attendance traumatized.

One X user wrote that it was "undoubtedly the worst thing I've ever seen happen."

"But I can't stop thinking about everyone who's been traumatised by what happened, particularly those whose lives have changed in an instant," the user added in a later post.

Another user said it was the "stuff of nightmares."

The incident appeared to happen as a Sheffield Steelers player tried to body check one of Johnson's teammates, the Daily Mail reported.

Staff brought protective screens out onto the ice and put them up around Johnson after the game had stopped.

Johnson had previously played 13 games for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins over the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

He also played two collegiate seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth.