Photo Credit: rgrossi / reddit
A man fell 150 feet to his death into the section below the balcony at Madison Square Garden during a Goose concert on Saturday night.
The man fell 150 feet from the Chase Bridge during a Goose concert shortly before 10 PM and was found “unconscious and unresponsive.” He was identified as 51-year-old Paul Kueker from Connecticut and was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“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,” the band, also from Connecticut, wrote on Instagram. They were performing at MSG for the second night in a row. “Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”
Witnesses in the crowd said that a fan fell from the upper 200 or 300 level to level 100. The venue’s primary 100, 200, and 300 seating levels amount to the height of an average 10-story building.
“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 in section 102,” wrote one witness on Reddit.
“I’m in 306; there was blood everywhere. You don’t wanna go back,” answered another.
“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,” described a third witness.
“Wheeled off and bloodbath,” shared another concertgoer, who included an image showing a large section of seats taped off and apparently caved in from the impact.
“I thought it was a balloon popping. That’s how loud it was,” someone else said.
Witnesses said they saw medics taking Kueker away on a stretcher. After a lengthy break, the band reportedly played a second set. Police later confirmed the incident was fatal, but details have not yet been publicly released regarding the circumstances of the fall.
