Adam Johnson’s fiancée Ryan Wolfe reveals touching letter she wrote for wedding to ice hockey star before skate death

ADAM Johnson’s fiancée has revealed a heartbreaking letter she wrote for their wedding before his death.

The Nottingham Panthers star, 29, died after suffering a gash to the neck when he was struck by an ice skate on October 28.

The couple had been living together in EnglandRex

Ryan gave a heartbreaking tribute at Adam’s funeral last weekRex

AP

Adam in action for the Pittsburgh Penguins during his time in the NHL[/caption]

His partner Ryan Wolfe was part of a crowd of more than 8,000 watching the Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers at the Utilita Arena when tragedy struck.

She spoke at a celebration of his life held on the ice at the Memorial Building Arena in Minnesota last week.

Ryan teared up her sister stood alongside her on a platform for support.

She said: “There’s so many things I could say about Adam and if I had the time I would talk about him for hours, but instead I wanted to write him a letter similar to something I would’ve written him for our wedding day.

“I want you to know how much I love you and adore you. You have been so amazingly supportive and kind to me since the day we met and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.

“I always thought that maybe if I was lucky enough after a lifetime together I might start to be more like you.

“You’re such a special person, you had the best sense of humour, the biggest heart, the quickest wit and the kindest soul.”

Ryan is understood to have been on the ice as her partner received emergency medical attention after being struck by Matt Petgrave’s ice skate.

The players formed a ring around to provide privacy, before Adam was rushed to hospital, where he died hours later.

An emotional Ryan added: “You made me so insanely happy and it feels like an understatement to say we were boyfriend and girlfriend or fiancées.

“I never really felt like there was a label that could describe us, how well we fit, how in sync and aware of one another we were, how we agreed with everything under the sun – even if sometimes you liked to disagree with me on little things like the quickest way home or the best brand of peanut butter.

“To me you were everything, you were my home, my best friend, my sounding board, my rock, my safe haven and the love of my life.

“I’m never going to stop thinking about you, missing you and loving you until we can be together again.”

She received a round of applause following her eulogy.

It comes as police yesterday confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over Adam’s death.

The man was today bailed, South Yorkshire Police say.

In a statement yesterday Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said: “Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive enquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances.

“We have been speaking to highly specialised experts in their field to assist in our inquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.”

A post-mortem examination confirmed the American’s cause of death as a neck injury earlier this month.

A coroner who opened the inquest into Johnson’s death warned that there could be more ice hockey deaths unless neck guards become mandatory.

Reuters

Fans gather to lay flowers at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena[/caption]

PA

A sea of flowers and, photos and written messages formed a makeshift memorial[/caption]