Slipknot concertgoer dies after collapsing outside mosh pit
A 62-year-old man, Richard Valadez, died while attending Slipknot‘s Knotfest concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, IL on August 11. Cause of death is undetermined at this time, but witnesses told Patch that Valadez collapsed to the ground after being in the mosh pit during Slipknot’s set. “Basically everyone was jumping around in the mosh pit having a good time and just being friendly roughhousing dorks, as usual for metal concerts, Anthony Mackey told Patch. An hour in, however, he fell after being hit. “He seized as people were trying to help him up, so we start calling for help,” Mackey said, continuing that two unidentified men performed CPR on Valadez while other people tried to push back the crowd.
Witnesses described confusion on the scene, and that it took an “unacceptably long amount of time” for emergency staff to reach Valadez. Tinley Park Fire Chief Forest Reeder gave the following statement: “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.”
“Over all the whole venue just screwed the pooch on the entire thing,” Mackey told Patch. “No communication, no preparation, nothing.”
Slipknot’s Knotfest tour, which is with Gojira, Behemoth, and Volbeat, hits the NYC area for shows at Long Island’s Jones Beach on August 28 and NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center on 8/30 (tickets).
