An Australian punk rock band said it is “shocked to the core” after a young fan broke her neck when their singer jumped into the crowd at a concert last month.
Bird Piché, 24, suffered a “catastrophic spinal injury” after Trophy Eyes frontman John Floreani jumped into a mosh pit at his show at Mohawk Place in Buffalo, New York, on April 30.
Disturbing footage shows Piché’s distinctive pink hair moving to the music before Floreani jumped into the crowd in the horrific incident.
The music lover broke her neck and was left partially paralyzed, but has since regained feeling in her arms and fingers, according to family friends.
‘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,” Trophy Eyes said in a statement posted to X several days later.
The show, at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place, was immediately stopped and Floreani accompanied Piche (pictured) to the hospital where she underwent “extensive surgery.”
The band’s lead singer, John Floreani, launched himself into the crowd (pictured), crushing Piche and seriously injuring her.
“As a result of the tragic accident on the night of April 30, a Trophy Eyes fan was injured at our Buffalo NY show,” they added.
‘We chose to close the program immediately while John accompanied them to the hospital with his family.
‘Out of respect for the family, we have refrained from speaking about this publicly until now, but with the family’s blessing we can now say how truly heartbroken we are to be here now.
“Our friend Bird is now in recovery, but he still has a long road ahead… the situation has shaken us all to our core, and we ask for patience as we seek to help Bird through this difficult time.”
The band from Newcastle, Australia, has donated $5,000 to the fundraiser for Piche’s medical bills, set up by family friends Leo Wolters Tejera and Stephanie Brown.
Tejera told ABC WKBW that Piché’s neck was “definitely broken,” but that he had regained feeling in his arms and hands on May 3.
‘She can use her fingers and hands and stuff. Her fine motor skills are a little difficult, but the surgeon said that is normal due to the surgery and anesthesia.
Tejera added that he was shocked by the extent of his friend’s injuries because the images of the shock incident do not appear dramatic.
Bird Piche (pictured) suffered a “catastrophic spinal injury” after attending Australian band Trophy Eyes’ show in Buffalo, New York.
Trophy Eyes (pictured) has donated $5,000 to GoFundMe for Ms. Piche’s medical expenses
“The video is crazy because unless you knew someone was hurt in the video, you would never expect it,” he told WKBW.
‘As if it were just an average stage dive. The video I saw on Facebook and then another angle appeared on a Reddit thread, both seem pretty harmless.’
Tejera recalled the incident that occurred during the band’s opening song.
“He (Floreani) lunged into the crowd, and there must not have been enough people around to catch him, or they didn’t know he was going to jump,” he said.
Another commentator who claimed to be behind Piché as Floreani launched himself from the stage previously said the singer was “clearly devastated” after realizing he had hurt her.
Tejera added that others at the concert thought Piché had fainted and rushed to grab him a cold cloth.
“When they came back, they realized she was on the ground,” he said. ‘She wouldn’t get up and John, the singer, was there with her.
“So yes, she was taken directly to the hospital for emergency trauma surgery and then she was admitted.”
Stephanie Brown, a close family friend who organized the fundraiser with Tejera, said Piché already underwent “extensive surgery.”
Disturbing footage shows Piché’s distinctive pink hair moving to the music before Floreani jumped into the crowd in an incident which the band said has “shaken us all to the core”.
Stephanie Brown, a close family friend who organized the fundraiser with Tejera, said Piché already underwent “extensive surgery.”
“He has a long recovery ahead of him and will need all the help he can get,” he wrote.
‘It’s still too early to know what his prognosis is, but after he leaves the hospital he will have to go to a rehabilitation center. Obviously he won’t be able to work during this time.’
Buffalo’s Mohawk Place manager Mike Thor said the location has 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.
“We are currently working to organize a benefit show to help the injured party with their GoFundMe.”