2023-10-08 02:03:11
Around fifteen people were injured when the footbridge of a staircase collapsed Saturday evening at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Convention Center.
The accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. while hundreds of people were celebrating the Mountain Bike World Cup.
The party ended abruptly and in a crush as panicked people searched for loved ones among the large crowd.
All emergency services were quickly alerted.
“I had my right foot in the void. We held on and saw people on the ground,” explained a young person still in shock.
Photo Jean-François Racine
The crowd
The walkway in question connects an exit from the Convention Center to the main walkway at the bottom of the ski mountain.
On site, the police had to restore order while the rescuers tried to sort the injured.
Ironically, the closest premises, less than five meters away, is the mountain patrol infirmary. People who were in poor condition were immediately transferred inside while their condition was assessed.
Photo Jean-François Racine
At least ten people were transported by ambulance to different hospitals.
The Sûreté du Québec speaks of around fifteen injured in total. However, no lives would be threatened.
It is not known at this time whether people under the bridge were affected by debris. The injured are those who were on the surface. The group fell approximately twelve feet.
Photo: Jean-François Racine
Heavy fall
According to initial findings, the steel structure of the footbridge, as well as the concrete beams which support it, appear to be of recent construction. According to witnesses, it was rather the seat or the joint on which the wooden platform rested that gave way. However, this information remains to be confirmed.
In the Convention Center, around ten other victims were sitting on the ground near a huge ice tray.
An investigation should clarify the circumstances of the tragedy, in particular the number of people who were on the structure.
Photo: Jean-François Racine
“The Mouvement Production organization is taking the situation very seriously and all members of the team on site are working closely with the emergency services, local and medical authorities. The competitions and programming for Sunday October 8 are maintained as planned as part of the World Cup,” it was indicated in a press release.
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