At least two people lost their lives in separate medical emergencies at packed events across the Americas on Saturday, while Rod Stewart, the 81-year-old Scottish rock singer, required oxygen after nearly fainting on stage in Utah, according to police, medical and media accounts from three countries.

In Córdoba, Argentina, a 52-year-old man collapsed and suffered convulsions while playing football at a sports complex in the Villa Esquiú neighbourhood. Emergency services transported him to Elpidio Torres Hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite resuscitation attempts, local police reported. Authorities have launched an investigation and provisionally classified the death as of “doubtful etiology” pending autopsy results.

Later that evening, during a concert by the American rock band Goose at Madison Square Garden in New York, a 51-year-old man fell from an elevated position inside the arena. Officers responding to a 911 call found him unconscious with injuries consistent with a severe fall. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital and pronounced dead, the New York City Police Department said in a statement. The band, which continued its performance after the incident, later said it was “heartbroken” and thanked emergency personnel. The police have not released the victim’s name, and the circumstances leading to the fall remain under investigation.

One day earlier, Rod Stewart became visibly unwell during a concert in West Valley City, Utah, at an altitude of about 1,300 metres. The 81-year-old Scottish singer was seen leaning on stage equipment before being given oxygen by assistants. He then addressed the crowd, explaining he had nearly fainted, and completed the set while seated, according to fan videos and entertainment media reports. Stewart had previously cancelled several shows due to a severe upper respiratory infection, and local reports suggested the altitude may have contributed to his distress.

While Stewart appeared to recover quickly, Argentinian and US authorities are awaiting forensic results to determine the exact causes of the two deaths. No links between the incidents have been suggested, but the cluster of medical emergencies at high-attendance events has drawn attention to the challenges faced by organisers and emergency services.