ADAM Johnson was reportedly brought back to life in an ambulance before dying during surgery, his aunt has revealed.
The ice hockey star, 29, collapsed on the ice after suffering a gash to the neck when he was struck by an ice skate on Saturday night.
Johnson, a Nottingham Panthers forward, was briefly helped towards the side of the rink following the collision with Sheffield Steelers' Matt Petgrave.
But he collapsed a few paces later and received emergency medical treatment on the ice, with the players forming a protective ring as he received emergency medical attention and fiancee Ryan Wolfe, 24, rushed to be at his side.
Johnson was then rushed to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital from the Utilita Arena, but later died of his injuries.
His aunt Kari Johnson was watching the game on a live-stream from her home in Minnesota when the "horrific" collision took place, The Times reports.
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She told local outlet KSTP-TV: "We saw it happen. It was horrific. I cannot even describe it because nobody should have to live through what we saw.
“The skate cut right through Adam’s windpipe, and it cut his carotid artery.
"At one point, they had lost him in the ambulance and they brought him back.
"He didn’t make it through surgery once they got him to the hospital.
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"They just couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. He lost way too much blood. Just seeing it was traumatic."
Hundreds of fans gathered to pay their respects outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, the Panthers' home venue, throughout Sunday and Monday.
A sea of flowers, candles and written messages have formed a makeshift memorial to the ice hockey star.
Johnson's fiancee Ryan is understood to have visited the memorial with his teammates on Monday.
She is believed to be flying back to Minnesota to reunite with her family.
Fans of both the Panthers and the Steelers will hold vigils in both Nottingham and Sheffield on Saturday, gathering at 8pm ahead of a minute's silence.
The Elite Ice Hockey League has confirmed the Panthers' next three games have been postponed as players are "still coming to terms with the events of Saturday night".
A statement added: "The Elite League can confirm that games scheduled for both Tuesday and Wednesday will be postponed.
"Earlier today, the coaches of eight teams consulted with their players about what should happen next.
"These teams expressed their wish to return to playing Elite League fixtures this weekend.
"Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers will not return to the ice this weekend, and we would continue to ask everyone to support these clubs through what is an intensely difficult time.
"All games taking place this weekend will be organised with appropriate and fitting tributes to Adam Johnson.
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"Please bear with us, as this needs to be an on-going process to ensure that all tributes have been agreed with those affected most deeply by what has happened.
"The Elite League will give further details of the planned tributes ahead of the weekend, and we hope that fans from around the league will feel able to come together to pay tribute to Adam as part of what is a very sad and difficult process for everyone."
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