One killed, six injured in Madonna stage collapse
July 17th, 2009 - 1:45 am ICT by John Le Fevre
One person was killed and two others critically injured when a stage being erected for a Madonna concert in Marseille, France collapsed earlier today.
The accident occurred as more than 50 technicians were working to prepare the 60,000-seat Stade Velodrome for the latest in the 50-year-old entertainers almost year-long Sticky And Sweet world tour.
Up to a dozen people were working under the stage when it collapsed, with firefighters, a dozen ambulances, and rescue teams with sniffer dogs called to the scene.
Firefighters said the accident occurred when the roof of the stage became unbalanced as it was being lifted by four cranes, causing one to topple, crashing onto the structure below.
Rescue workers said at least four other workers suffered minor injuries in the accident, with one rescue worker saying, “there were a lot of open fractures, it was a messy sight.”
Stade Velodrome is France’s second biggest sports arena and home to the Olympique de Marseille football club.
Tickets for Madonna’s Paris and Marseille gigs were discounted last month to boost sales, amid signs organisers were struggling to fill the huge venues.
The singer, who turns 51 next month, was scheduled to perform at the stadium after playing to a crowd of 15,000 in Paris last week.
Jose Allegrini, deputy mayor of Marseille, said pop star’s gig, planned for Sunday, had been cancelled and an investigation into the accident had commenced.
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Tags: ambulances, collapse, cranes, deputy mayor, entertainers, firefighters, football club, gig, gigs, jose allegrini, madonna concert, marseille france, minor injuries, olympique, open fractures, pop star, sniffer dogs, sports arena, sweet world, velodrome