Police say the sudden death of British All Elite Wrestling star Benjamin Satterley, known to fans as PAC, is not being treated as suspicious after he was found unconscious inside a car near Chicago on Sunday. He was 40 years old.
Officers discovered no signs of foul play at the scene in Des Plaines, Illinois, police told TMZ. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has conducted an autopsy, but the official cause and manner of death remain pending further laboratory tests that could take several weeks to complete.
Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to a Mediterranean-themed CAVA restaurant parking lot near Chicago O'Hare International Airport around 4:00pm on Sunday after restaurant customers spotted Satterley passed out in his vehicle and dialed 911.
Bystanders searched inside the restaurant for medical equipment to assist the wrestler before emergency personnel arrived. A witness reported seeing an ambulance, police car, and fire truck gathered outside the establishment shortly after the call.
First responders described the situation as a "slumper in a car" in emergency dispatch audio, noting they were initially unable to confirm whether the driver was breathing. An official was later recorded stating that Satterley was found dead on arrival.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office officially pronounced Satterley dead at 4:08pm on Sunday. Des Plaines is a suburban city in Cook County located immediately adjacent to O'Hare International Airport, one of the primary commercial aviation hubs serving the Chicago metropolitan area.
Police Investigation and Emergency Response
Satterley had performed the previous night in suburban Chicago at AEW's All Out pay-per-view event at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. He competed in a match against Andrade before making a second appearance later that evening during a main event matchup between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.
All Elite Wrestling officially announced Satterley's passing in a statement released shortly after 6:00pm on Sunday, roughly two hours after he was pronounced dead.
"A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 and went on to perform for wrestling organizations all over the world, captivating fans with innovative high-flying moves and incredible in-ring ability," AEW said in the statement.
"Pac signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2019 and held multiple AEW Championships and competed in some of the most memorable matches in AEW history," the promotion added. "Our condolences go out to Satterley's family, friends and fans."
Career Legacy and Tributes
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Satterley launched his professional wrestling career in 2004 and gained international renown for his acrobatic wrestling style and aerial technique. Prior to joining AEW at its launch in 2019, he competed for World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Adrian Neville, winning the NXT Championship and the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
All Elite Wrestling, founded in 2019 by Tony Khan, is the second-largest professional wrestling promotion in North America. Satterley was among the company's prominent early signings, going on to win the AEW All-Atlantic Championship and the AEW World Trios Championship during his tenure.
Authorities confirmed that no further details regarding the cause of death will be released until the Cook County Medical Examiner completes full toxicology testing and final autopsy reports in the coming weeks.
