Enjoy Wrestling co-owner Kurt Hackimer has now given the clearest account yet of what happened in the terrifying final minutes after Andy Williams collapsed Saturday night.
Hackimer issued a statement to KDKA-TV reporter Ricky Sayer, saying Williams collapsed at ringside after his match and struck his head on the floor before medical personnel rushed in. According to Hackimer, Williams was still conscious at first, but he was unresponsive and his condition deteriorated quickly.
“Andy collapsed at ringside after his match on Saturday and hit his head on the floor. We carried him to the side where he was attended to by the two doctors we have on staff.”
“I called for an ambulance. At this time, he was conscious but unresponsive. His condition worsened quickly and his pulse faded. Called 911 again to provide an update and were informed that the police were about to arrive.”
That’s when the wrestling show turned into a full-scale medical emergency. Hackimer said Enjoy Wrestling immediately ended the event and cleared the building while doctors performed CPR and used an AED provided by police until an ambulance arrived.
“We ended the event and asked the audience to leave. Doctors administered CPR and utilized an AED provided by the police until the ambulance arrived.”
Williams was then rushed to Allegheny General Hospital. Hackimer said he was transported at around 9:45 p.m., and the promotion learned of his death shortly after midnight through Williams’ longtime tag team partner Jesse Guillemette, better known to wrestling fans as The Blade.
“He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital at around 9:45PM and we were informed of his passing by his tag team partner, Jesse Guilleman, shortly after midnight.”
The statement also adds an important piece when it comes to what may have happened medically. Hackimer said medics at the scene believed Williams’ symptoms were consistent with a cardiac event, but there is still no official cause of death.
“Medics on site indicated that the symptoms were consistent with a cardiac event, but we were told that the cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.”
That means the fact that Williams hit his head does not establish that the impact caused his death. The new account comes after 911 dispatch audio revealed Williams had hit his head during the incident. Williams received CPR at the venue before being rushed away by ambulance and later died following the medical emergency.
Hackimer’s statement finally gives a play-by-play from someone who was actually there: Williams collapsed, hit his head, initially remained conscious but unresponsive, lost his pulse, received CPR and an AED, and was rushed to the hospital as the entire show was shut down. The exact cause of death is still waiting on an autopsy, but this is now the most detailed account yet of how quickly the situation went from a wrestling match to a fight to save Williams’ life.
What do you make of Kurt Hackimer’s account of Andy Williams’ final moments at the venue? Leave your thoughts and condolences in the comments.
