Death by climbing rope too fast

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Messages 1 - 16 of total 16 in this topic
cali kat

climber
CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 31, 2013 - 04:16pm PT

"Cirque du Soleil dancer died in Vegas because she climbed up rope too quickly before fall, report concludes"


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2480249/Cirque-du-Soleil-dancer-died-Vegas-climbed-rope-quickly-fall-report-concludes.html

hmm. Can someone explain what happened?
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Oct 31, 2013 - 04:24pm PT
'She ascended too quickly which caused the rope to come out of the sheave/pulley,' said Teri Williams, spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.
'The rope was severed when it encountered a sheer point. The investigation concluded that she ascended too quickly, in part, because she did not receive proper training.'

She was being hoisted by a wire cable, which came out of its pulley, and then frayed/cut. She then fell 50 or 90 feet.
cali kat

climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 31, 2013 - 04:28pm PT
Did she control her own hoisting? What kind of device would that be? The article is confusing... they referred to as climbing, then ascending, then said she was inexperienced.
Deekaid

climber
Oct 31, 2013 - 04:32pm PT
they did an episode on world's toughest fixes about this show... pretty complicated setup they are working with... is this the first thread on this? there are a thousand other stupid off-topic threads at least this is climbing and rigging related... this could be the next Tito type controversy... I am not sure but I believe she was featured on the program... so I don't know about inexperienced
TrundleBum

Trad climber
Las Vegas
Oct 31, 2013 - 05:09pm PT
"Nice how the Casino-Friendly Las Vegas press reports this accident as if it were the performer's fault.
That's some solid reporting right there."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news <--- that would be Brittish
Not in Las Vegas, Not in Nevada, not even in the U.S !

"Investigators have concluded..."<--That would be OSHA
Not State investigators, but rather Federal !

"this could be the next Tito type controversy..."
Akin to comparing Robert Goddard's early expriments in liquid rocketry fuel with the Challenger accident !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeee har Let the next Taco 'Witch Hunt' begin ;)
David D.

Trad climber
Monterey
Oct 31, 2013 - 05:20pm PT
This article is much clearer and easy to understand. It faults the operator of te electronic wing that was hoisting her up for not being trained.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2013/oct/29/osha-fines-cirque-du-soleil-and-mgm-grand-ka-perfo/

OSHA’s findings, issued this morning, were that the wire rope suspending Guillot-Guyard “was severed due to the rapid ascent of the performer, ultimately causing the rope to be freed from the sheave/pulley and scraping against a shear point.”
In other words, the wire had shifted out of the disk in the pulley housing and was cut as a result of the combined tension of Guillot-Guyard’s weight and the torque from the electric motor pulling her up the show’s moveable stage, which was set in a vertical position. Guillot-Guyard fell unimpeded to the floor below the opening in the stage. Her death was the first during a performance in Cirque’s 29-year history.
As a result of the OSHA investigation, inspectors issued six citations against Cirque and three against MGM Grand. Cirque’s citations included a failure to “protect or prevent ‘Ka’ employees from striking an overhead grid during the ‘Ka’ show at the ‘Ka’ Theater.” This matches reports from those familiar with the “Ka” staging and fatal incident that Guillot-Guyard did hit the metal grid over the stage as she ascended high above the Final Battle scene, which jarred the rope connecting her to her harness.
TrundleBum

Trad climber
Las Vegas
Oct 31, 2013 - 05:40pm PT
The company was founded in 1984 after its initial members began touring Quebec as a performing troupe four years before.

Cirque du Soleil expanded rapidly through the 1990s and 2000s, growing from one single show in Canada to shows in more than 271 cities on every continent except Antarctica.

Each show employs about 4,000 people from more than 40 countries, and the company generates an estimated annual revenue of more than $810 million
"Her death was the first during a performance in Cirque’s 29-year history."

Cirque du Soleil runs a phenomenal amount of shows/productions.
Their staff, from performers through riggers, engineers and safety specialists are world class and arguably 'cutting edge'. Their safety record is impeccable in the field of acrobatics and rigging.

There was an accident. Yes tragic indeed !
It was in a very intricate and technical show and performance environment.

Surely rock climbers, entertainment performers/riggers (on other shows) and Rope Access industry workers have suffered many more fatal accidents in past 6 months then Cirque du Soleil performers in the history of the company!
Deekaid

climber
Oct 31, 2013 - 06:00pm PT
yes I meant as far as everyone involved getting sued and or prosecuted possibly,

and yes my first post also mentioned the complexity of the rig... many many variables... I have been a stage rigger since 1995 and seen some pretty incredible rigs
Deekaid

climber
Oct 31, 2013 - 06:04pm PT
rest in peace Sarah
jgill

Boulder climber
Colorado
Nov 1, 2013 - 12:03am PT
I've been to KA twice. Incredible athletics. The production looks very dangerous with climbers scaling off a wall that turns vertical, dropping into a hidden pit. I'm surprised it's played this long without serious injury. It's the most spectacular show I've ever seen. Well worth the price of admission.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Nov 1, 2013 - 12:27am PT
hey there say, cali cat... very sad to hear this, of the young performer and mother, and all that she was... :(

my condolences to her family and loved ones... :(
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Nov 1, 2013 - 10:01am PT
Sad to hear about her passing. Looks like she was a very talented performer.

Whoever wrote the article did a poor job. They repeat no less than 3 times in the beginning paragraphs that it was her fault for "climbing too fast" before explaining that it was actually a totally bizarre rigging accident while she was being mechanically hoisted. Then they first say she had insufficient training, but go on to explain her 20 years experience. I seriously doubt someone of her caliber did anything wrong. Boo on that reporter for putting out a badly written and misleading article.
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
Nov 1, 2013 - 10:11am PT
This one is a big time multi million dollar wrongful death case.
cali kat

climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 3, 2013 - 01:50pm PT
http://nypost.com/2013/11/03/cirque-du-soleil-performer-falls-from-wheel-of-death/


Another accident! Fortunately, this one has a good prognosis.
monolith

climber
SF bay area
Nov 3, 2013 - 01:57pm PT
From the video in the op link, it looks like they don't climb. Looks like they are pulled. They are 'climbing' without their hands. Poor written article.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Nov 3, 2013 - 07:46pm PT
hey there say, tami...


sadly, that is one of the worse dangers in any job:

someone around that is JUST WANTING to get the job done...
that will adversely affect the ones that CARE to do the best,
as to cautions, for all... :(


*glad to hear the other accident, that was just posted,
was not fatal...
Messages 1 - 16 of total 16 in this topic
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