A young woman who suffered a “catastrophic spinal injury” after the lead singer of an Australian punk rock band jumped into the crowd to go surfing in public is expected to make a full recovery.
Bird Piché, 24, was left “scared” and unable to move after singer John Floreani, of Newcastle-based band Trophy Eyes, jumped into the mosh pit at their show in Buffalo, New York, in April.
Mrs. Piché and her family said NBC News he had regained use of his arms and some function of his legs, but not full use of his fingers and toes.
“When you hear about these types of injuries, they are obviously very serious, so I didn’t expect to have any recovery,” Ms. Piché said.
Mrs. Piché has now recovered her gross motor skills, the most basic movements of her arms and legs.
Expect to develop fine motor skills and the ability to make complex movements with your fingers and toes to perform basic tasks of everyday life.
The band’s lead singer, John Floreani, plunged into the crowd (pictured), crushing Piche and seriously injuring her.
Bird Piché (pictured) suffered a “catastrophic spinal injury” after attending Australian band Trophy Eyes’ show in Buffalo, New York.
‘My arms, they are… in addition to my dexterity in my hands, almost completely. My fingers don’t have full movement,” said Mrs. Piché.
He also revealed that his legs made spontaneous kicking movements.
Piché said that he had been in rehabilitation and that his prognosis was very positive.
“They think I’ll make a full recovery.” “Nothing is certain, obviously, but they are predicting that I will fully recover from everything,” she said.
Mrs. Piché remembers clearly when Floreani jumped back into the crowd.
“It was like his body and my neck, it was a crowd surfing thing.”
Mrs. Piché’s family feared greatly for her after the incident. “We were even worried that she wouldn’t survive,” said her mother Amy Leigh Flaminio.
‘It’s going to be a long road, but the first signs are very promising. It is exciting.’
Following the accident, the band said in a statement that they were “truly heartbroken” but had decided to continue with their American tour.
‘This situation has shaken us all to our core and we ask for patience as we seek to help Bird through this difficult time. Please keep Bird in your thoughts,” they said.
The show, at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place, stopped immediately and Floreani accompanied Piché to the hospital with his family.
Mrs. Piché said that she had been in rehabilitation and her prognosis was very positive.
John Floreani (pictured back left with Trophy Eyes band members) accompanied Ms. Piché to the hospital with her family.
Trophy Eyes also donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe for Ms. Piche’s medical bills and loss of income.
Mohawk Place manager Mike Thor said the venue had a strict “no moshing” policy.
“There are signs posted everywhere in the venue and a notice was included in emails for this show with the show promoter and the band themselves,” he said in a statement.
“Our policy and practiced procedure is a complete stop to any stage skipping that has been implemented for this incident.”