Concertgoer sues band after being paralysed by crowd surfing singer-Ruth Lawes and Brooke Ivey Johnson-Entertainment – Metro

Bird Piche underwent ‘extensive’ surgery after the accident (Picture: Instagram/birdpiche)

A punk rock fan has had to undergo extensive surgery after she was left partially paralysed following a gig in New York and now she’s suing the band, the venue, and the concert promoter.

Bird Piche, 24, suffered a ‘catastrophic spinal cord injury’ after Trophy Eyes lead singer John Floreani crowd-surfed into a mosh pit at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place on Tuesday.

Their performance was immediately stopped after the tragic accident -which was captured on a video shared with news.com.au – and Floreani accompanied Piche to hospital with her family.

In a statement posted on X, the band said they were ‘truly heartbroken’ and added: ‘The situation has shaken us all to our core, and we ask for patience while we look to help Bird navigate this difficult time.’

The venue has a no stage-diving and no moshing policy.

The lawsuit, filed on December 18 in New York’s Erie County, names frontman Floreani, Trophy Eyes, the show’s promoter After Dark Entertainment, and the venue as defendants.

She was injured at a New York gig for Australian band Trophy Eyes (Picture: Instagram/Trophy Eyes)

The suit alleges the injuries were ‘sustained as a result of the negligence, recklessness and carelessness’ of the defendants.

A GoFundMe has been set up to pay for Piche’s recovery and rehabilitation after she underwent ‘extensive’ surgery. The band donated $5,000 (£3,984).

A family friend said Bird’s neck was broken during the incident but she has since regained feeling in her fingers, The Independent reports.

Reddit user wmsiegner5 said they witnessed the accident at the gig last week, which they said happened two minutes into the first song.

They added: ‘A girl in the middle of the crowd ended up getting seriously injured after this stage dive.

‘I left immediately once I saw the state she was in, I heard the show was cancelled once the ambulance showed up.

‘Really hoping for the best possible outcome for that fan.’

AdSharp9409 was also at the gig and said they were stood right beside Piche when the accident happened.

On Reddit, they said: ‘My partner and I were directly beside her. As soon as we heard her say she was scared and couldn’t move we knew it wasn’t good. John was clearly devastated.’

In a statement shared with Metro, Buffalo’s Mohawk Place’s manager Mike Thor said the venue has a ‘very strict’ no stage-diving or crowd-surfing policy.

Thor continued: ‘There are signs posted everywhere in the venue and notice was included in the emails for this show with the show’s promoter and the band themselves.

‘Our policy and practised procedure is a full show stop for any stage diving which was put into place for this incident.

Piche suffered a ‘catastrophic spinal cord injury’ after the accident (Picture: Instagram/birdpiche)

‘Currently we are working to put together a charity show to help the injured party with their GoFundMe.’

Trophy Eyes addressed the accident in a statement posted on X and said they would remain in ‘close contact’ with Piche and her family.

They said: ‘As the result of a tragic accident on the night of April 30, a Trophy Eyes fan was injured at our Buffalo NY show.

‘We elected to immediately shut down the show as John accompanied them to the hospital with their family.

‘Out of respect for the family, we have refrained from speaking about this publicly so far, but with the blessing of their family we are now able to say how truly heartbroken we are to be here now.

Trophy Eyes said they were ‘truly heartbroken’ in a statement (Picture: Instagram/Trophy Eyes)

‘Our friend, Bird, is now in recovery but still has a long road ahead for them. A GoFundMe has been set up by their family, you can donate below.

‘The situation has shaken us all to our core, and we ask for patience while we look to help Bird navigate this difficult time. Please keep Bird in your thoughts.

‘We remain in close contact with them and will expand on this as new news arrives. Yours faithfully, Trophy Eyes.’

The GoFundMe to fund Piche’s medical bills was set up by a family friend who said she has a ‘long road to recovery ahead.’

They added: ‘It is still too early to know what her prognosis is but after leaving the hospital she will need to go to a rehab facility. She will obviously not be able to work during this time.

‘We will update with details according to her comfort level. The funds will be used for medical bills and anything she may need to function in life because of the accident.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Buffalo’s Mohawk Place for comment.

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