The death of a married father of two who plunged from a 150-foot-high balcony during a Goose the Band concert at Madison Square Garden earlier this summer was officially ruled an accident, officials said Monday.
Nearly two months after Paul Kueker, 51, of Connecticut, took a head-first dive from a balcony in the 300s section of the iconic arena while celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife, the city medical examiner’s office determined his death was accidental.
Kueker, of Niantic, succumbed to “multiple blunt impact injuries,” officials said.
The concertgoer “appeared intoxicated” and “under the influence’’ before he tumbled over the 4-foot-high glass barrier shortly before 10 p.m. June 20, law-enforcement sources previously told The Post, quoting witnesses.
One horrified witness told The Post that after the tragic fall, he saw Kueker’s head “like a foot to the left of my shoes.”
“Within a few seconds, I was standing in blood,’’ the traumatized man said.
The Post exclusively viewed video footage showing Kueker plunging head-first over the barrier, with the witness describing hearing a sudden loud bang seconds later, followed by people screaming to get the man help.
The witness said Kueker’s fatal fall happened during intermission, when about 25 to 50 percent of people were in their seats.
Kueker served as the director of operations for the energy management company Smartcon Solutions.
“Paul meant the world to everyone at Smartcon,” William Brown, the company’s general manager, said in a statement.
“He was an extraordinary person and a valued member of our team, and the loss is felt deeply across our entire company. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. He will be profoundly missed.”
The band, meanwhile, began selling a “Big Love” t-shirt online, saying all of the proceeds would go to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up by Kueker’s family.
