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The band Goose has expressed profound sorrow following the tragic passing of a fan who died after falling from an elevated section during their performance at Madison Square Garden this past Saturday, June 20.
According to reports from the New York Police Department, 51-year-old Paul Kueker, a resident of Niantic, Connecticut, fell from an upper level of the arena shortly before 10:00 p.m. Responding officers discovered Mr. Kueker unresponsive at the scene. He was promptly transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Officials have confirmed that the victim was attending the show with his wife; there is no indication of foul play, and the incident remains under investigation.
In the wake of the tragedy, Goose released an official statement on Instagram honoring the fan’s memory. “We are heartbroken to learn of the devastating accident that occurred at tonight’s performance,” the band shared. “We extend our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this loss, and we are incredibly grateful to the emergency responders and arena staff who provided immediate care and assistance.”
Madison Square Garden also issued a formal response: “While we await the final police report regarding the tragedy at last night’s Goose concert, we are deeply saddened by this loss of life. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.”
Despite the harrowing circumstances, the Connecticut-based group chose to proceed with their scheduled SummerStage concert in Central Park on Sunday. The band noted that they arrived at this difficult decision in hopes of providing a space for their community to find solace, process the grief, and support one another. They also announced that all proceeds from the Sunday performance would be donated to a charitable fund aimed at assisting their fans.
Opening the show on Sunday, multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach held a moment of silence for Mr. Kueker. Addressing the audience, he reflected on the fragility of life and the strength of the community, stating, “We are here to help each other. We are meant to find comfort in one another, and we truly appreciate each of you being here tonight. We love you all.”
