Sting opening act member collapses mid-concert after suffering cardiac arrest
The British band was opening for Sting at Liverpool's On The Waterfront music festival on Sunday night when Duke, 58, collapsed on stage from cardiac arrest.
Eyewitnesses claimed that frontman Garry Christian urgently called for medics to rush to the stage to help Duke, according to The Mirror.
7 Lionel Duke performing with The Christians.
Moments later, a privacy screen was reportedly installed around Duke and the medics to hide the scene from the crowd.
A notice was put up on the festival's screens that read, 'We appreciate your patience and understanding. Medical staff are with the performer, and we will provide an update as soon as we can.'
7 Sting in the Royal Theatre Carre in Amsterdam on June 6, 2025.
Bruno Press/Abaca Press/INSTARimages
7 Sting performs in Germany on June 14.
ZUMAPRESS.com
Eventually, a spokesperson for the band reportedly addressed the crowd and confirmed Duke suffered a cardiac arrest.
'We're really hoping he is going to make it,' the spokesperson told the audience, per The Mirror. 'He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much.'
7 The Christians.
Despite the crisis, The Christians reportedly encouraged Sting, 73, to continue with his headline set.
Once the Grammy Award winner took the stage, he told the crowd, 'The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him.'
7 Sting in London on June 11.
ZUMAPRESS.com
The Christians posted a statement on Facebook after Duke was rushed to the hospital.
'Thank you so much to all the many many messages regarding our drummer Lionel Duke who suffered a cardiac arrest while performing at tonights amazing concert ahead of Sting,' the band wrote.
In a Tuesday update, the group said: 'Lionel will be kept on ventilation in a medically induced coma in ICU for the next two days at Broadgreen Heart & Chest Hospital at which point we will know more.'
7 Sting performs in Amsterdam on June 5.
ANP/AFP via Getty Images
The band also thanked 'the phenomenal team of medics present from On The Waterfront Liverpool team who stepped in so swiftly to help our poor Lionel.'
The Post has reached out to The Christians' rep for comment.
On social media, fans reacted to witnessing Duke's medical emergency.
'It was terrifying to see poor Lionel slump forward,' a fan wrote on The Christians' Facebook post.' I was so proud of the respect the Liverpool crowd showed falling silent, no photos and many people turned around.'
7 Sting performs at the Isle Of Wight Festival on June 20.
Dan Reid/Shutterstock
'Was there, right near the front last night. The reaction of everyone was amazing, we had a doctor jump over the fence next to us to go and assist,' another fan shared. 'Crowd reaction was so respectful too. Big shout out to Sting as well.'
A third concertgoer praised the venue for shielding Duke while he was getting medical attention on stage.
The Christians were formed in 1985 by brothers Garry, Roger and Russell and fourth member Henry Priestman.
The band's self-titled debut album hit No. 2 on the charts in the UK at the time of its 1987 release.
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