Seven Injured as Overhead Camera Falls in Olympic Park
Seven people were injured when cables on a overhead television camera gave way at the Olympic Park on Monday (15). The incident was confirmed by the Rio 2016 organizing committee.
The camera belongs to the official image generator service of the Olympic Games, provided by the company Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).
The device was inactive, waiting to be serviced, between Carioca Arenas 1 and 2. At the time of the incident, the support cable gave way and the camera fell.
Two children were among the injured. They were struck by the cable that had suspended the camera in the air. They are conscious and were taken to Lourenço Jorge hospital for tests.
One of the children, is 11 year old Ana Luisa Campos. Her mother Cristina Campos said that the cable struck her daughter in the leg, from the knee down.
"The cable struck her leg. From the knee down. I tried to pull it off, but I couldn't. It scraped her entire lower leg and she will be taken to Lourenço Jorge," said her mother.
Since the cable that came loose runs from one end of the park to another, anyone along this path may be injured. The committee is working to determine if there have been other victims.
Two other women and one man were seen by the ambulance at the Olympic Park and have been released.
One of them was retired professor Jussara Henrique, 56, from Santa Catarina. She said her main concern was the risk of electric shock from the cable.
"The cable almost hit my face. I have a burn on my knee, but it could have been worse. I just think it is unfortunate because it is the second time this happens. This needs to be resolved," she said.
Another one of the seven victims was 48 year old dentist Adriana Rocha. She suffered injuries to the neck from the cable.
Physical Education teacher Rogerio Souza Silva, from Curitiba, was walking along a footbridge when he was hit.
"I was headed to see basketball. I felt a blow and pain. I felt shock, but I am fine now," said the professor, as he exited the ambulance.
In a statement, the OBS said "the camera was suspended 10 meters in the air by two cables. Each one of them is capable of supporting the weight of the camera".
The company also said that the camera fell from a height of 20 meters and that the incident caused "light injuries in seven people who received medical attention". OBS said it will investigate the case.
Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ