Latest news with #Lionel
ITV News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Drummer of Sting support act The Christians suffers 'cardiac arrest' onstage in Liverpool
A Liverpool band was forced to abruptly end their set after its drummer had a suspected cardiac arrest on stage. The Christians were playing at Liverpool's On The Waterfront event on Sunday 22 June, when drummer Lionel Duke suddenly collapsed. In a statement posted on social media following the incident, the band said: "Thank you so much for all the many many messages regarding our drummer Lionel Duke who suffered a cardiac arrest while performing at tonight's amazing concert ahead of Sting."We are awaiting news from the Heart and Chest hospital at Broad Green and thank the phenomenal team of medics present from On The Waterfront Liverpool team who stepped in so swiftly to help our poor Lionel. "Please send positive vibes his way." The band were performing ahead of Sting for the packed event at the Pier Head. The band's lead singer Garry Christian shouted for medics and a black screen was put up. The band's manager Emma Bridget appeared on stage shortly after to update the thousands in the crowd. She said: "We were so looking forward to tonight it was going to be the big gig of the year and our lovely drummer has had a cardiac arrest.'They've done four rounds of CPR on him. We're really hoping he is going to make it. He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much.'I'm just so sorry because Garry loves Liverpool and he wanted to put on the show of his life and we're really devastated but thank you so much.' Fans of the Liverpool-based band expressed their support. Mike Landsborough said: "I was at the gig in the front seen it all unfold. What swift action by his band and first aid responders and the event staff for making it dignified by shielding Lionel with a makeshift curtain whilst they performed the CPR. Our thoughts are with Lionel his family and his band family."The Christians were the final act to perform last night before headliner Sting made his appearance. As Sting took to the stage at 9.30pm, he said Mr Duke was recovering in hospital as fans cheered the said: 'The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him."
Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sting support act pictured in hospital after collapsing live on stage
The drummer from Sting's supporting act, The Christians, suddenly collapsed while at the On The Waterfront festival on Sunday evening Sting's return to Liverpool recently took a sombre turn when the drummer from his support act, The Christians, collapsed mid-performance. The frontman, Garry Christian, cried out for help when drummer Lionel Duke collapsed at the On The Waterfront festival on Sunday. A privacy screen was soon put up around him before he was rushed off the stage, checked by the onsite medical staff, and taken to the hospital. The band's manager, Emma Bridget, revealed he was doing okay, despite initially not having a pulse, and was receiving medical attention. "We're really hoping he is going to make it. He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much," she said. READ MORE: DAZN lets Club World Cup fans watch every game for free if they do one thing "I'm just so sorry because Garry loves Liverpool and he wanted to put on the show of his life and we're really devastated but thank you so much." Two days after the shock medical emergency, The Christians took to their Facebook page to share an update with a picture of Lionel recovering in hospital. In the picture, Lional was wearing a hospital gown and was connected to IV drips as he smiled for the camera from his seat. Garry sat close by with his arm placed around the drummer. "He made it," they captioned the post and added a flexing emoji. Fans rushed to the comment section to share their support for Lionel and the band. "I believe in Miracles and take into account amazing medical intervention. Wishing you a speedy recovery," one user said and another added: "So pleased to see you on the mend. We was there on Sunday and haven't stopped thinking about you." One fan commented: "I can't tell you how happy this photo makes me. Go Lionel!" and one added: "Brilliant news! Well done to all who helped save him." Despite the shock, The Christians reportedly encouraged Sting to proceed with his headline set, offering their full support. When he eventually appeared on stage, Sting made sure to acknowledge what had happened, opening his performance with a few quiet, heartfelt words about the drummer's condition: 'The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him.' It was a rare emotional moment for the legendary artist, whose appearance marked his first performance in Liverpool since 1979. Reflecting on the city's deep musical legacy and its connection to his own roots, the former Police frontman added: "I apologise. I don't know what kept me. I'm happy to be in this historic music city. The most historic music city in the world for obvious reasons.'
Wales Online
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Drummer suffers heart attack on stage at festival
Drummer suffers heart attack on stage at festival Lionel Duke, drummer for Liverpool band The Christians, suffered the cardiac arrest early into their set, the final support act before Sting was due to perform at the On The Waterfront festival at Liverpool's Pier Head on Sunday night. The Christians were playing on stage for the On The Waterfront festival, when their drummer, Lionel Duke, collapsed with a suspected 'cardiac arrest' (image from previous show) (Image: Jonathon Cuff/handout ) A music festival was halted after a drummer collapsed on stage with a heart attack as thousands of fans watched. Lionel Duke, drummer for Liverpool band The Christians, suffered the cardiac arrest early into their set, the final support act before Sting was due to perform at the On The Waterfront festival at Liverpool's Pier Head on Sunday night. Mr Duke was given emergency first aid before being taken to a local hospital, with the thousands at the event being updated that medical staff were treating the musician. The band's performance was abandoned but, after a delay, when the headline act Sting took to the stage, he told the crowd to cheers and applause that Mr Duke was in hospital and everyone was praying for him. A statement on The Christians' Facebook page thanked well-wishers for the thousands of messages they had received and said Mr Duke had been taken to Broadgreen Hospital in the city, and thanked the medics present at the On The Waterfront festival. Article continues below A further statement on Monday read: "As you may have heard our appearance at the last night of @otwfliverpool was sadly abandoned due to our drummer Lionel Duke collapsed suffering a cardiac arrest during the early part of our performance and was treated by the amazing OTWF team and medics within the audience onstage following @ plea for help. "Our thanks also to @theofficialsting for his concern and beautiful tribute to Lionel 'how fragile we are'" Fans at the event also wrote on the band's page with best wishes. Article continues below Julie Forshaw said: "We were at the concert and we send our thoughts and love to Lionel, his friends and family and all of the band and crew ... the swift action of the medics and first aiders was amazing, and all of the stage crew quickly ensured that Lionel and the medics who were delivering first aid had the privacy that was needed. "All of the crowd were silent and willing a positive outcome. Your manager was so professional with her speech so soon after the event was very brave. Sting's tribute was amazing and reminds us all that life is indeed very fragile. Take care everyone and we hope Lionel has a good recovery." Mike Landsborough wrote: "Was at the gig in the front seen it all unfold what swift action by his band and first aid responders and the event staff for making it dignified by shielding Lionel with a makeshift curtain whilst they performed the c.p.r I know he is in good hands at Broadgreen as I too suffered a heart attack and was treated successfully at Broadgreen our thoughts are with Lionel his family and his band family."
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sting's heartwrenching tribute to drummer who collapsed live on stage
Sting shared a touching tribute to The Christians drummer Lionel Duke, who suffered a cardiac arrest while on stage in Liverpool over the weekend Sting shared a moving tribute to The Christians' Lionel Duke following his cardiac arrest on stage. The drummer who was supporting the legendary musician in Liverpool left fans concerned after he appeared to collapse before going into arrest at the iconic Pier Head on Sunday. Lead singer of the band, Garry, requested urgent assistance from the medical teams before a privacy screen was set up on stage. It was during this time that medics worked rapidly to perform CPR on Lionel, whose heart had stopped beating. Lionel was subsequently rushed to the hospital via ambulance after the emergency staff managed to resuscitate him. But while many wondered whether the show would continue, Sting, 73, later took to the stage and reassured fans who had packed the waterfront that Lionel was doing ok and was receiving treatment. One fan who was in attendance said: "We were kept updated, and Sting sang 'Fragile' after asking us all to hold Lionel in our thoughts." A second penned: "We were at the Waterfront - Sting was updating us all in the crowd and wished Lionel well and encouraged us all to think for him and sang Fragile as the final song for the evening." While on stage, the Grammy Award-winning musician said: "The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him." As the sad incident unfolded, event organisers kept fans updated throughout with messages being displayed on huge screens. One read: "We appreciate your patience and understanding. Medical staff are with the performer, and we will provide an update as soon as we can." Shortly after, a spokesperson for the band, who is believed to be their manager, shared an update with fans – explaining that Lionel had suffered a cardiac arrest. She said: "We're really hoping he is going to make it. He didn't have a pulse; he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much." The band also encouraged Sting to perform. Earlier today, the band issued a statement on social media on Lionel's condition, explaining they are still awaiting news. They said: "Thank you so much to all the many many messages regarding our drummer Lionel Duke who suffered a cardiac arrest while performing at tonight's amazing concert ahead of Sting. We are awaiting news from the Heart and Chest hospital at Broad Green and thank the phenomenal team of medics present from On The Waterfront Liverpool team who stepped in so swiftly to help our poor Lionel." Fans of the group rushed to offer their support, with one praising the medical team for their swift response. They said: "Was at the gig in the front seen it all unfold what swift action by his band and first aid responders and the event staff for making it dignified by shielding Lionel with a make shift curtain whilst they performed the c.p.r I know he is in good hands at Broadgreen." A second went on to write: "It was terrifying to see poor Lionel slump forward. I was so proud of the respect the Liverpool crowd showed falling silent, no photos and many people turned around. We were kept updated, and Sting sang 'fragile' after asking us all to hold Lionel in our thoughts. Wishing him a speedy recovery. He is in good hands at Broadgreen." Another typed: "It was very worrying when Lionel slumped forwards onto his drums. Seeing the black screens go up. They were working on him on the stage for a while. I'm so pleased he is doing OK. It was frightening to see. Best wishes to Lionel." "It was so awful to witness! Sending love and positive energy for a speedy recovery for Lionel. And sending love to Garry and the rest of the band too who must have been incredibly shaken," added a fourth.
Metro
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Sting's support act 'didn't have a pulse' after collapsing on stage
Audiences were horrified at Sting's Liverpool gig as a member of his support act, The Christians, collapsed on stage. The drummer, identified as Lionel Duke, suddenly collapsed at Sting's Pier Head gig on Sunday, prompting urgent cries for help from the frontman, Garry Christian. A privacy screen was put around him before he was rushed off stage, checked over by onsite medical staff and taken to hospital. A woman, thought to be the band's manager, Emma Bridget, came to address the shocked crowd as he received emergency medical attention. 'We're really hoping he is going to make it,' she said. 'He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much. 'I'm just so sorry because Garry loves Liverpool and he wanted to put on the show of his life and we're really devastated but thank you so much.' The Christians did not issue any further statement that evening but screens projected a message promising to provide an update as soon as possible. Sting did take to the stage after the horror calmed down and gave a small update on Lionel's condition. He told gig-goers, as per Manchester Evening News, that he was 'okay' and 'in hospital'. The Police icon added: 'All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him.' Lionel is still in hospital but the band issued an update on their social media, thanking everyone for their concern. More Trending They wrote: 'Thank you so much to all the many many messages regarding our drummer Lionel Duke who suffered a cardiac arrest while performing at tonight's amazing concert ahead of Sting. 'We are awaiting news from the Heart and Chest hospital at Broad Green and thank the phenomenal team of medics present from On The Waterfront Liverpool team who stepped in so swiftly to help our poor Lionel.' Metro has reached out to Sting's team for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
