RI - Circus performers hurt in scaffolding collapse

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dotr

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http://www.torontosun.com/2014/05/04/circus-performers-hurt-in-rhode-island-scaffolding-collapse

"A scaffolding collapsed during a circus performance in Rhode Island on Sunday, injuring as many as 20 performers, nine of them critically, the Providence Fire Department said.

The incident happened around noon during an aerial performance by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, the city fire department said.

As many as 20 performers were hurt when the scaffolding collapsed, dropping them between 25 and 8 and 12 metres to the ground. Nine of the performers were critically injured but are expected to survive, fire officials said"
 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/04/us/circus-accident-rhode-island/



"Nine Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus performers were among 11 people injured Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island, after an apparatus used in their act failed, circus spokesman Stephen Payne said.

Eight performers fell when the hair-hang apparatus -- which holds performers by their hair -- failed, Payne added. Another performer was injured on the ground, he said.

The performers were among 11 people hospitalized with injuries related to the accident, Rhode Island Hospital spokeswoman Jill Reuter told CNN. One of those people was listed in critical condition, Reuter said.

It was not immediately clear who the other two victims were.

Multiple emergency units responded to the accident at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Eyewitnesses told CNN affiliate WPRI that they saw acrobats up on a type of aerial scaffolding doing a "human chandelier" when a cable snapped."
 
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-acrobats-injured-rhode-island-20140504,0,2638774.story

"The performers did not scream as they fell, but there was a "collective gasp" from onlookers who were unsure at first whether the collapse was part of the act, said spectator Aletha Wood, who was at the show with her two children and took the video.

Stephen Pare, the Providence public safety commissioner, said 15 to 20 people had been hurt, with nine treated at Rhode Island Hospital.

"They're in critical, but expect (it) to be non-life-threatening injuries, a lot of broken bones, etc.," he told reporters.

A hospital spokeswoman gave different numbers, saying 11 people were treated in the emergency room and seven were admitted.

The women fell between 25 and 40 feet, and a performer on the floor was also badly injured, fire officials said.

Wood said the collapse stunned the audience".
 
How can the performers fall 25 plus feet and not be seriously hurt?

Ive read reports stating one serious injury to 7 serious injuries.
 
It appeared they fell on something inflatable that cushioned their fall. That is probably why injuries are not worse. At least that is how it looks to me.


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danzn16 said:
It appeared they fell on something inflatable that cushioned their fall. That is probably why injuries are not worse. At least that is how it looks to me.


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Click to expand...

I didn't know that. Good to know.
 
CHERIE.T said:
I didn't know that. Good to know.
Click to expand...


I don't know that for sure. It just appears they bounced to me like they would if they fell on a mat. So that's my assumption.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...b397e4-d3af-11e3-8f7d-7786660fff7c_story.html

bbm.

"Video taken by audience members showed a curtain coming down, and several performers hanging around 25 feet in the air from an apparatus suspended from above. Seconds later, as they began to perform, the women fell and the metal apparatus landed on them.

“It just went crashing down,” said audience member Sydney Bragg, 14, of North Kingstown. “Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream.”

She said spotlights were on the performers at the time, but all the lights went out after the fall.

Rosa Viveiros of Seekonk, Massachusetts, said she saw that the acrobats had fallen on top of at least one other performer on the ground, a man who stood up with his face bloodied. The acrobats remained still and did not get up, she said".
 
So I guess that was the curtain that they fell on (seen "poofing" as they fall onto it). I'm surprised more accidents of this kind don't happen at the circus. I hope all those injured are going to be ok.
 
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2014/05/05/21649536.html
bbm
"Eight acrobats remained hospitalized, two in critical condition, following the Sunday incident, when the rig holding them hanging by their hair collapsed in front of an audience of about 3,900 people, including young children.

"We have identified the clamp that snapped that held them to the rafters and it failed," Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare told WPRO-AM radio in Providence on Monday.

Pare could not be reached immediately to elaborate. But officials from Feld Entertainment, which owns the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, said it was too soon to identify the cause of the collapse.

"The comments by the commissioner in Providence are premature at this point," circus spokesman Stephen Payne said. "We hope to release more information at the conclusion of the investigation into what caused the accident."
 
Blondie in Spokane said:
TWO circus performers from platform collapse in critical condition as clamp malfunction is revealed as the cause of the accident which caused them to fall 40 feet

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...intaining-none-life-threatening-injuries.html
Click to expand...

From the link Blondie in Spokane provided.. Very surprising choice of clamp imo
bbm http://www.ebay.com/bhp/d-ring-carabiner


"Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said investigators know that at least one clamp - D-ring carabiner - attaching the human chandelier to the rafters at the Dunkin' Donuts Center failed.

It is unclear why it broke or if other parts of the complex rigging system malfunctioned"
 
I heard on my satellite radio at lunch time that one of the injured girls spoke softly as she told paramedics I can't feel my legs. So sad!

Not sure which news station I had this on.
 
dotr said:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...b397e4-d3af-11e3-8f7d-7786660fff7c_story.html

bbm.

"Video taken by audience members showed a curtain coming down, and several performers hanging around 25 feet in the air from an apparatus suspended from above. Seconds later, as they began to perform, the women fell and the metal apparatus landed on them.

“It just went crashing down,” said audience member Sydney Bragg, 14, of North Kingstown. “Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream.”

She said spotlights were on the performers at the time, but all the lights went out after the fall.

Rosa Viveiros of Seekonk, Massachusetts, said she saw that the acrobats had fallen on top of at least one other performer on the ground, a man who stood up with his face bloodied. The acrobats remained still and did not get up, she said".
Click to expand...

ABC news reported on television that a B AND B spokesperson said there was NO cushioning platform under the apparatus that fell. 9 injuries were reported and 6 are serious.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/snapped-clamp-eyed-circus-accident-critical-23593891
All eight of the acrobats were still hospitalized with injuries including a pierced liver and neck and back fractures, as well as head injuries
 
QueenD said:
I heard on my satellite radio at lunch time that one of the injured girls spoke softly as she told paramedics I can't feel my legs. So sad!

Not sure which news station I had this on.
Click to expand...


I read that too on CNN. Prayers to these women who use their bodies so magnificently. I hope they regain all function


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
dotr said:
"Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said investigators know that at least one clamp - D-ring carabiner - attaching the human chandelier to the rafters at the Dunkin' Donuts Center failed.
Click to expand...

carabiner-13319.jpg


http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/ma...t-left-hurt/Yt1ObvHpyoWPkQTgchBHLP/story.html

You can see the D-ring here:

34yspjt.jpg


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...fall-circus-act-authorities-article-1.1779794
 
All eight of the acrobats were still hospitalized with injuries including a pierced liver and neck and back fractures, as well as head injuries. None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. The last two acrobats in critical condition were upgraded to serious condition Monday night. Four of the acrobats were in good condition and four in serious.

The women are from the United States, Brazil, Bulgaria and Ukraine, the circus said. A dancer on the ground was also injured and was released from the hospital Sunday.

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2023532818_apxcircusaccident.html
 
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