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.
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.
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