Slipknot new 2019, ariana grande

Slipknot showgoer dies after reportedly collapsing outside of mosh pit

One Slipknot fan has died after collapsing outside of the mosh pit at one of the band’s stops of the Knotfest Roadshow. 

The gig took place at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. According to reports, the fan is 62-year-old Richard Valadez. 

Read more: Nirvana never had Redd Kross open due to Courtney Love, band alleges

Valadez was apparently moshing with other fans when he was knocked to the ground. He began seizing up and some confusion lead to a delay in getting him medical assistance. 

He was pronounced dead later in the evening, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The exact details about the cause of death or circumstances that lead to the incident are currently unknown. The medical examiner in the area is currently working on a pending autopsy. 

Because the event was private, Tinley Park Fire Chief Forest Reeder said his department did not respond to the emergency call, the Patch reports. 

“The Fire Department was not present for this incident at the amphitheater as the emergency medical services are provided by a private contractor for any on-site emergencies,” he said. 

Concertgoers report seeing Valadez enjoy his time at the show. One attendee, Anthony Mackey, says that about an hour into the band’s set, the man was hit too hard and fell. He was knocked out of the pit and collapsed in the grass. 

“He seized as people were trying to help him up, so we start calling for help,” Mackey added.

Mackey said he and other fans attempted to get people away from Valadez so he would not be stepped on. Two men also performed CPR on him while they waited for medical attention, which apparently took some time to arrive. 

“Over all the whole venue just screwed the pooch on the entire thing,” Mackey said. “No communication, no preparation, nothing.”

Read more: Waterparks hashtag gets “Dream Boy” early debut on SiriusXM pop station

At a show earlier in the tour, Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor was forced to cut the music and stop the band’s set in order to get medics into the pit after the crowd got a bit too rowdy. 

Reddit user mSTH95 posted about the incident in which some fans were reportedly being trampled and having seizures in the pit.

Taylor stopped the song after people refused to stop moshing to let medics in.

“Knotfest SB was crazy fucking good,” the Reddit post reads. “Mosh pits were so fucking rowdy, crazy good but some chicks started to get trampled & have seizures. Corey got mad, he stopped the song because people wouldn’t stop moving to get EMT In.”

During the video, you can hear Taylor address the crowd.

“No one is fucking getting hurt on my fucking watch, do you understand me? Back the fuck up!”

You can see videos from that show here.

Slipknot are still currently on tour with more information available here

AP sends our deepest condolences to Valadez’s friends and family at this time.

See more: 10 most iconic music video looks

[envira-gallery id=”186695″]