Adam Johnson died when his neck was sliced on the ice during an Elite League Ice Hockey match between rivals Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena in October 2023
An ice hockey player who was arrested after an opponent’s horror death in a game has been re-bailed.
Matthew Petgrave was arrested on suspicion of the manslaughter of Adam Johnson who bled to death on the ice after his neck was sliced open by a skate following a collision. The grisly collision happened during an Elite League Ice Hockey match between rivals Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena in October 2023 and thousands of fans witnessed the horror.
South Yorkshire Police originally arrested a man in November 2023 and he has been re-bailed a number of times since. The force has never confirmed the suspect’s identity, but an public fundraising appeal has been posted under 33-year-old Petgrave’s name online. In a statement today, a force spokesperson confirmed that he has been re-bailed until May 29.
They said: “A man arrested on 14 November 2023 on suspicion of manslaughter was later bailed. He has been further re-bailed until 29 May 2025. The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to understand the circumstances surrounding Adam’s tragic death.”
Shocking footage streamed online at the time showed 29-year-old Adam – who played for the Panthers after spells in Germany and Sweden – bleeding profusely on the ice. He then stood up and tried to skate off, but collapsed again as spectators watched in horror as attempts were made to save his life. He was rushed to hospital and pronounced dead. Adam previously played 13 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in North America’s National Hockey League and within days of his death, coroner Tanyka Rawden called for neck guards to be made compulsory in ice hockey.
Last year, an appeal was posted on CrowdJustice, an online platform where individuals can appeal for money to fund legal action. In the appeal, Petgrave said his UK visa has expired, preventing him from working, and his insurance cover has ended.
