Last night, news broke that American punk band A Day To Remember‘s first date of their tour at Portsmouth Guildhall had to be stopped and abandoned half an hour after they took to the stage due to a young male falling from the balcony and into the stalls.
In a statement provided by a spokesperson for the Guildhall, it has been suggested that the young man, a 21-year old from Southsea, appeared to “dive off of the Circle” and landed “in the stalls narrowly avoiding the crowd below.” Eye-witnesses have revealed how the man seemed to fly through the air before crashing on the floor.
One attendee, a 23-year old from Fareham said, “First aid staff went over straight away. I went over and asked if they needed a hand. I was clearing people back from the area for a bit.” Another, 21-year old female, from Bournemouth, said, “They put some black barriers around him so he could be treated. I can’t imagine how his friends and family might feel.”
A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary has said that the man was immediately rushed to Southampton General Hospital in critical condition after suffering severe head injuries. Eye-witnesses praised the police and ambulances services in their sharpness to get to the venue with both on the scene within a matter of minutes.
In the statement from the Guildhall, they have expressed that an investigation will immediately take place involving all of those concerned in order to find out exactly what happened and that themselves, as well as Portsmouth Cultural Trust, will be fully cooperating with police. They did, however, state that “all concerts scheduled this week will go ahead as planned.” They also stated that they thanked A Day To Remember for stopping the show immediately and the public for their cooperation.
A Day To Remember apologised on Twitter for having to stop the show and also sent their thoughts to the young man you was injured.
Portsmouth Guildhall have said that no further comment will be given at this time.
