Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old married father of two from Connecticut, died after falling 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden during a Goose concert on Saturday night. The incident occurred shortly before 10 p.m., and he was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital, according to police.
Family and Band React
Kueker's mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post: "He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world, he'd give you the shirt off his back. He took care of me like I was a piece of gold." Kueker attended the concert with his wife and children. After the fall, he was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.
The band Goose, which was performing its second night at MSG as part of a summer tour, released a statement: "We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight's show. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support." The band completed its 16-song set around midnight after an extended intermission following the incident.
Witness Accounts and Scene
Concert attendees reported that a fan fell from the upper 200 or 300 tier down to level 100. The venue's seating sections correspond to the height of a typical 10-story building. A photo posted on Reddit showed crushed seats cordoned off with police tape. One witness in section 101 said: "The thud was incredibly loud. All of us in sections 101, 102, and 103 are shaken pretty hard. It's very uneasy here... we hope he's okay! It took them a long while to get him on the stretcher." Another attendee described the scene as a "bloodbath" after paramedic response. Paramedics removed Kueker on a stretcher, and the band resumed their set after a delay.
