Police have issued an update regarding the arrest of a man suspected of manslaughter in connection with the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson.
On October 28 last year, Johnson suffered a fatal injury to his throat during a game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. The 29-year-old was playing for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers.
Johnson was taken to a hospital where he later died, with a post-mortem examination confirming the cause of death as a neck injury.
At the time, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and subsequently bailed by the South Yorkshire Police.
Police have now confirmed that the individual has been re-bailed until November 11, with the investigation into Johnson’s death described as ‘ongoing.’
In a statement, South Yorkshire Police wrote, “Our investigation is ongoing, and our thoughts remain with Adam’s family.
“If there are any developments in the investigation ahead of the new bail expiry date, these will be issued proactively on the South Yorkshire Police website.”
When the arrest was initially made, a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson told The Yorkshire Post, “Detectives have today (14 November 2023) arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter. He remains in police custody at this time.
“On Saturday 28 October, Adam, aged 29, was seriously injured during a game between Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers and was sadly later pronounced deceased in hospital.
“A post-mortem examination confirmed he died as a result of a fatal neck injury.”
The identity of the arrested man has not been disclosed.
Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall also stated at the time, “Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive enquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances.
“We have been speaking to highly specialized experts in their field to assist in our enquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.
“Adam’s death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world.
“We know these communities will expect us to handle this investigation with the same professionalism, fairness and sensitivity as any other and request that members of the public refrain from comment and speculation which could hinder this process.
“Our thoughts remain with all affected by this devastating incident as enquiries continue.”