W.W.M.C 007 - 'Spider-Man' stuntman injured in a fall

NEW YORK -- Broadway might need a superhero to save the new Spider-Man musical. "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," the most expensive production in Broadway history, suffered its fourth accident in a month when a stuntman playing the web-slinger fell about 30 feet into a stage pit during a preview Monday night. The safety tether that clips to his back failed to prevent the spill.

The performer, Christopher W. Tierney, was wheeled out of the Foxwoods Theatre on a stretcher, still in his costume, and taken by ambulance to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries. He suffered broken ribs and internal bleeding, said a castmate, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the musical.

In a statement, Actors' Equity said investigators determined that the accident was caused by human error. It gave no details but said additional safety measures are being undertaken.

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[LukeTugboat]

get better riggers. Ones who know their equipment and materials. The latest fall looked like a basic rigging flaw; shock loading a "fiber" tech line over an edge vs using wire rope (steal cable) to resist heat build up. This accident has happened on other productions. Its basic; use the right materials in the right manner. At least the line should have been rigged from a higher point on a shiv...just poor rigging for the sake of trying to hide the safety line (and NO the 'harness' did not break)

[WhoIsFrankMartin]

@LukeTugboat I agree when i watched the video it looks as if the line snapped because he was hanging off the edge which to me is proof of them using cheap/poor rigging. Do you think since they still have not "worked the bugs" out yet they should scrap scenes where spider-man swings over the audience?

[LukeTugboat]

I know when i rigged and built equipment for a certain very big name and big production they had one man on set who's sole job was watching how every stunt was rigged and executed like a HAWK. That was all he did....questioning and watching everything. Yet certain people still tried to cut corners and made dangerous calls when it came to safety issues....even though i voiced my concerns.

[LukeTugboat]

Riggers can have tremendous skills in specific areas but then lack basic knowledge/understanding in other areas. Eg Stunt harness, materials, etc. They need someone who looks at the bigger picture For example he might see a problem and say, "hey,..we have spiderman shockloading that line over and avoer between shows.,...maybe we should change the line angle and swap out the line every x number of shows....".

[LukeTugboat]

There is definetley some advanced wire work going on usuing computeriazed accleration and decelleration systems. So its not like they have gone out and hired incompetent people in that regards. But when it comes down to some details they are obviousley missing they mark (so to speak). Perhaps they need to hire or fire their current overall safety manager....he should be on top of every detail and have complete authority to overide all rigging decisions.

[LukeTugboat]

I dont know about scrapping the scenes with flying over audiences. I mean it is an integral part of the show and seamsd like a very cool concept. But if you think about it; a movie would never have background performers (extras) run under rigged stunts. So why would a production allow them to swing over AUDIENCE members!....hmmmm.

[LukeTugboat]

He didnt just hang off the edge....there was slack in the line so it was setup as a "fall" to be arrested ie he 'shock loaded' the line. THis dramatically increases the forces and can be very dangerous when using low stretch lines without 'deceleration' systems.