Rock band Goose is reeling after a married father of two fell to his death during their concert at Madison Square Garden over the weekend. Paul Kueker, 51, plunged 45 metres from the Chase Bridge inside the arena shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Band's Response
We are all reeling following the events that occurred at last night's show, the band wrote in a statement on Instagram on Sunday. Getting off stage to learn that news was devastating for us and our crew, and we cannot imagine how some of you left the show feeling last night.
The statement continued: We want to make all our fans and friends aware of some resources available to them, listing crisis and support hotlines across the United States. The Connecticut-based band, consisting of members Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weeks, Peter Anspach and Cotter Ellis, also announced they would host community gatherings with licensed therapists and grief counselors for affected fans.
What Happened
Kueker was attending the show with his wife Kristen to celebrate their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary, according to the New York Daily News. He suffered injuries indicative of falling from an elevated position inside Madison Square Garden and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kueker left their seats to use the restroom, so his wife did not witness the fall from the third level of the arena, his mother Patti Finelli told the Daily News. He got up to go to the bathroom and he didn't come back, Finelli said. She was getting worried after 10 or 15 minutes. And he didn't come back. Police eventually found Kristen and informed her of the tragedy.
Remembering Paul
He was a wonderful dad, Finelli said. He loved everybody. He had no enemies. He was the life of the party. His sense of humour was beyond.
Goose held a 15-second moment of silence prior to Sunday's Central Park show. Just want to take a moment to address some of the tragic events that happened at last night's show and extend our deepest condolences to Paul, his family, his friends and everyone who was affected by what happened, Anspach said. In moments like this, you realize life is so fragile and we're so lucky to have an incredible community here around us. Everybody, if you're struggling with something, please don't be afraid to reach out to somebody in your life or send us a message. Please. We got to help each other out. That's why we're here. People are meant to talk and be with people.
Family Speaks Out
A GoFundMe has been launched by Paul's daughter, Kloe, to help with funeral and memorial costs. He was a loving father, family man, and friend whose presence brought warmth and laughter wherever he went, she wrote on behalf of the family. The sudden loss of our dad has left our family heartbroken. We are struggling to process this unimaginable tragedy while facing the expenses that come with laying him to rest. She added: We will forever miss our dad's love, strength, and the joy he brought into our lives. His memory will live on through the countless lives he touched and the family he loved so deeply.
The Show Went On
The band noted they debated whether Sunday's show should go on. We considered whether or not we were going to play and came to the decision that the best thing we can do right now is bring our community together, lean on one another, and offer a space for healing, Goose said in a statement. So let's be kind to each other tonight and remember our friend.
Goose also released a statement on the night of the tragedy, saying they were deeply saddened and heartbroken before thanking emergency workers and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.
