Poppy Bilderbeck
A music fan has spoken out after suffering a 'catastrophic spinal injury' after a lead singer of a band stage-dived at a gig.
On the evening of 30 April, the lead singer of Australian punk band Trophy Eyes jumped into the audience while performing at Mohawk Place in Buffalo, New York. However, he ended up landing on a 24-year-old fan named Bird Piché.
Bird was rushed to hospital with 'a catastrophic spinal chord injury' and underwent 'extensive surgery,' with their mom, Amy Leigh Flaminio, telling NBC News she was 'worried [Bird] wasn't going to make it'.
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Thankfully, the music lover pulled through and is reported as having since regained the use of her arms and some of their leg functions, but she isn't able to fully use her hands or toes properly.
And Bird has since spoken out about the incident and their road to recovery.
Bird recalled the moment the lead singer of the band - John Floreani - tried to do 'a crowd-surfing thing' and 'his body' ended up on their 'neck'.
While they note crowd-surfing is 'pretty typical at these kinds of shows', Bird 'didn't' really know what to expect'.
"But I definitely didn't expect to be in a hospital after the concert," Bird added.
And while Bird initially 'didn't expect to have any recovery' given 'when you hear about these types of injuries, they're obviously very serious,' thankfully Bird feels more positive now.
https://t.co/mzqqCkgidR pic.twitter.com/vY9OPl6CcJ
— Trophy Eyes (@trophyeyesmusic) May 3, 2024
Despite acknowledging they have 'a long road ahead,' Bird says they're 'very optimistic right now'.
The next step is for Bird to go to rehab where medical professionals believe she will 'have full recovery'.
Bird resolved: "Nothing is certain, obviously, but they are predicting l will have full recovery of everything."
A GoFundMe has been set up by their mom's friend to help pay for Bird's medical bills and care, and Trophy Eyes took to social media to comment on the incident alongside sharing a link to the GoFundMe.
The statement explained the show was 'shut down' right away and Floreani accompanied Bird to hospital.
It noted it's refrained from speaking publicly about the incident until it had the 'blessing' of Bird's family, but noted how it's now able to say how 'truly heartbroken' all its members are.
It resolved: "Our friend Bird, is now in recovery, but still has a long road ahead for them. A GoFundMe has been set up by their family, you can donate below."
The band made a $5,000 donation to the crowdfunding.
UNILAD has contacted Trophy Eyes for comment and previously contacted Buffalo's Mohawk Place.