Magician David Copperfield's assistant sucked into the blades of a giant wind machine

mailonline.co.uk ^ | 12/20/08 | Emily Sheridan

[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

[BlueStateBlues]

“. . .the doctors report numerous long stiches on the assistant’s stomach, allegedly from being ‘sawed in half’ six too many times.”

[omega4179]

Nice global warming pic inside!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/12/20/article-1098584-02D6C2B5000005DC-479_468x286_popup.jpg

[KoRn]

"'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."

I wonder how Copperfield was planning on walking through it. lol

[melt]

Welcome to "The David Chopperfield Show"...

[Blackhawk]

I have seen Copperfield perform this illusion live. It is stunning.

[JoeProBono]

[DManA]

Here ya go idiot, you better start with the basics.

Copperfield was with his assistant when he woke up after surgery on Thursday morning and presented him with a children's magic kit as a get well present.

[steelyourfaith]

Cool global cooling pic indeed. :-)

[hole_n_one]

The Fan

[missnry]

That’s a job that really sucks!

[keithtoo]

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!!!

Forget the moving fan.....how they went from one location to another is still mystifying to me.

[Tax-chick]

Zot, that’s really in the article. What a poor sense of taste.

[LiberConservative]

That was remarkable. Thanks for the link.

[Tax-chick]

Cleverly staged. I assume that’s not “Brandon” he’s groping in the video ...

[humantech]

I’m going with video screens under the platform that play video synced to the lights behind on the stage so it looks like the platform is only frame underneath- They drop behind the screens and end up underneath the auditorium - the silhouettes are also video being played on the side screens they put up-
OR- its magic.

[tajgirvan]

I Had to LOOK!

[cmsgop]

That blew Me away, thanks

I'll be here all week...........

[Walmartian]

Did ya hear about the lady that backed into a spinning airplane propeller?

Disaster.