Posted on 12/20/2008 1:42:37 PM PST by melt
Illusionist David Copperfield's assistant was rushed to hospital on Wednesday night after suffering horrific injuries during a live show.
A technician named Brandon was accidentally pulled into the vortex of an oversized fan on stage of Copperfield's An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Audience members watched in horror as the assistant was sucked into the fan, before another staff member rushed to switch it off.
Brandon, who is in his twenties, suffered puncture wounds in his face and broke his arm in several places. He was rushed to University Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery to his arm. A representative for Copperfield told UsMagazine.com: 'During an illusion where David attempts to walk through the rotating blades of a 12-foot high industrial fan, the fan and its platform were being rotated by one of David's illusion technicians. 'Just prior to David himself walking through the fan, [the assistant] was accidentally pulled into the vortex of the moving fan blades, causing injury to his arm and face. 'The surgery was several hours wherein the doctors
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Notice that once the fan is turned away from the audience, that no more air is actually flowing through it. The girl brings up a screen and her dress doesn’t move at all even thought it appears as if the blades still are turning.
Watch the video again. They put a cover over the fan before going to the back.
That would stop any air from going through it.
I think you miss the point entirely. That’s not “supposed” to be a solid cover. It is “supposed” to be a perforated screen through which you can still see the “blades” moving. That is also why the smoke at the end is supposedly able to pass through it.
arrrghhh...
Job safety? Where was the OSHA guard on that fan?
“So have I. I was sitting about 20 feet away as they danced into the fan and then - poof - they were standing about 30 feet BEHIND me!!!”
Copperfield is actually twins!!!
wow...that sucks....hope the guy recovers well.
Or maybe he just had the victim offed.
Or he did an extended consultation with Nikola Tesla...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.