A 36-year-old man tragically died after collapsing during a music festival hosted by the Australian rock group King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in Colorado, authorities reported.
Chaffee County Coroner Jeff Graf identified the victim as Mathew Gawiak of Denver, according to The Mountain Mail and Ark Valley Voice.
The incident took place on Friday, Aug. 15, during the first night of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Field of Vision festival at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista, Westword reported.
In an email to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Aug. 20, Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich confirmed Gawiak’s death and said the autopsy had been completed, but deferred further questions to Graf.
The Chaffee County Coroner did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. Graf told The Mountain Mail that toxicology reports typically take six to eight weeks to process.
In the wake of Gawiak’s passing, the band released a statement expressing their condolences.
“We are deeply saddened to share that on Friday night a member of our community passed away due to an unexpected medical event despite the best efforts from emergency teams,” the band wrote in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Aug. 20.
“We send our love and condolences to their family, friends, and all who are impacted by this loss. In moments like these, we are reminded of the importance of showing up for one another and are profoundly grateful for the compassion and care shown by so many,” the statement concluded.
On the final night of the three-day festival, the band acknowledged Gawiak’s passing and performed two songs in his memory.
Gawiak’s wife, Allison Zangle, described him as a wonderful husband in an email to PEOPLE. She shared that she had contacted King Gizzard’s management to see if the group would honor him during the festival.
“My entire family and those who were with Matt when he passed away at the concert all got together to watch the live stream,” Zangle wrote. “I was incredibly moved by the band’s tribute and it helped me to find some peace.”
She confirmed a Reddit post written by Gawiak’s brother, Christopher, which detailed the events at the show. According to the post, Gawiak felt dizzy during a performance of a King Gizzard song. As friends helped him leave, he collapsed and became unresponsive.
Zangle added that two anesthesiologists in the crowd immediately began CPR.
She has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. By Thursday, Aug. 21, the fundraiser had raised over $57,000.
“Matt was a loving and beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend,” Zangle wrote on the fundraiser page. “He was the love of my life and my best friend. He was the kindest, most genuine person I’ve ever met. His passions included playing guitar, camping, skiing, traveling, cooking, live music, and above all else, sharing those experiences with the people he loved.”
Zangle shared that Gawiak had earned a master’s degree and worked as a geospatial scientist, dedicating his life to making those around him happy.
“I find some peace knowing that he was surrounded by music and a community that was special to him and that he was truly happy in the moments before he tragically passed away,” she said.
Zangle also expressed a desire to channel her grief into preventing similar tragedies. “As a healthcare provider,” she wrote, “I would like to find a way to use my knowledge in this field to streamline healthcare for adults who had cancer as children.”
