Boy undergoes open heart surgery after being hit by drone at Orlando holiday show
Boy undergoes open heart surgery after being hit by drone at Orlando holiday show
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CHARGES, INCLUDING SEX TRAFFICKING. ALSO DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON, THE MOTHER OF A SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY HIT BY A DRONE DURING ORLANDO’S HOLIDAY SHOW IS PLEADING FOR HELP AND ANSWERS. SHE SAYS HER SON ALEXANDER, NEEDED HEART SURGERY AFTER HE WAS HIT IN THE CHEST WHEN THE DRONES FELL OVER THE WEEKEND AT LAKE EOLA. WESH 2’S CHRISTINA WATKINS LIV FROM LAKE EOLA THIS AFTERNOON. AND CHRISTINA, YOU SPOKE TO ALEXANDER’S MOM TODAY AND JUST WHAT AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THIS FAMILY. NANCY. WE WERE TEXTING JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, AND THE FIRST WORDS ALEXANDER’S MOM SAID TO ME WAS, AND I QUOTE, THIS IS HARD. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. SHE SAID HER SEVEN YEAR OLD DID HAVE THAT HEART SURGERY, AND NOW THEY’RE MONITORING IT. BUT SADLY, THEY EXPECT HIM TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS. I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT MOMENT. THE DRONES FELL OUT OF THE SKY HERE AT LAKE EOLA PARK. THIS VIDEO IS BEING SHARED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN SEE THOSE DRONES HITTING EACH OTHER BEFORE SEVERAL OF THEM STARTED FALLING. THE CITY PLANNED FOR TWO HOLIDAY SHOWS THAT NIGHT, BUT THEY HAD TO CANCEL THE SECOND BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. ALEXANDER’S MOM TOLD US HIS SISTER FOUND HIM ON THE FLOOR, UNCONSCIOUS, WITH BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS FACE. SHE SAID THE BLADE HIT HIS LIP AND THE DRONE ITSELF ELECTROCUTED HIS HEART, WHICH IS WHY SHE SAYS HE NEEDED THAT HEART SURGERY. ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS COME OUT HERE, CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS. AND NOW HIS MOM SAYS THIS ACCIDENT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THEM. HE’S BEEN ASKING EVERY DAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS, MOM? HOW MANY DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS? AND YOU KNOW, WE’RE DOING THE COUNTDOWN. AND NOW IT’S LIKE ALL HE’S GOING TO REMEMBER BEFORE CHRISTMAS IS THAT FOUR DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE HAD TO GET OPEN HEART SURGERY. ALEXANDER’S MOM ALSO TOLD ME THEY’VE REACHED OUT TO THE COMPANY THAT HOSTED THIS SKY ELEMENTS DRONES. THEY HAVEN’T HEARD BACK, BUT THEY DID SEND A STATEMENT TO WESH TWO. IN IT, SKY ELEMENT SAID THEY’RE SENDING THEIR SINCERE HOPE FOR A FULL AND SPEEDY RECOVERY, AND IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS. WE KNOW THE FAA IS NOW LEADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. UNTIL THIS FAMILY GETS SOME ANSWERS. ALEXANDER’S MOM STARTED A GOFUNDME TO RAISE SOME MONEY SO THEY CAN HELP PAY FOR WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS UNEXPECTED, UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EXPENSES. WE’RE LIV
The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation after multiple drones fell into a crowd during a drone show at Lake Eola on Saturday. Video obtained by WESH 2 News shows drones zipping through the air before several collided and crashed into the crowd.The Orlando Fire Department said one person was injured during the event and sent to a hospital. Adriana Edgerton said the person injured was her 7-year-old son Alezander. She said her son is undergoing open-heart surgery after being hit in the chest by the drone. Edgerton said that her family was watching the drone show when multiple drones fell from the sky, and one hit her son. "Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious. He had blood coming out of his face," Edgerton said. The boy underwent hours of open-heart surgery Sunday after the drone struck his chest with such force that it damaged one of his heart valves, Edgerton said.“The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” she said. A spokesperson from the FAA released a statement saying the agency will investigate "after several small drones collided and fell into a crowd during a holiday drone show over Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida."According to the FAA, "Drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulation. Typically, these events require a waiver to the regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time. We thoroughly review each drone show application to make sure the flying public and people on the ground will be safe." Edgerton said more safety precautions need to be put in place for large-scale events in Orlando. "This should not have happened, and no family should be going through this. We were trying to watch a show and have a good time," said Edgerton. The drone show was organized by Sky Elements, a Texas-based company that performs events nationwide.In a statement, Sky Elements said, “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery for those impacted at our Lake Eola show.” The company added that it remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards.The city of Orlando also released a statement, saying, “Our thoughts are with the family and all those impacted by the outcome of this event. The city remains in contact with the vendor and the FAA, who will conduct a thorough investigation.”It is not yet clear what caused the drones to collide. The FAA’s investigation is ongoing.WESH 2 News will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Video obtained by WESH 2 News shows drones zipping through the air before several collided and crashed into the crowd.
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The Orlando Fire Department said one person was injured during the event and sent to a hospital.
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Adriana Edgerton said the person injured was her 7-year-old son Alezander.
She said her son is undergoing open-heart surgery after being hit in the chest by the drone.
Edgerton said that her family was watching the drone show when multiple drones fell from the sky, and one hit her son.
"Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious. He had blood coming out of his face," Edgerton said.
The boy underwent hours of open-heart surgery Sunday after the drone struck his chest with such force that it damaged one of his heart valves, Edgerton said.
“The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” she said.
A spokesperson from the FAA released a statement saying the agency will investigate "after several small drones collided and fell into a crowd during a holiday drone show over Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida."
According to the FAA, "Drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulation. Typically, these events require a waiver to the regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time. We thoroughly review each drone show application to make sure the flying public and people on the ground will be safe."
Edgerton said more safety precautions need to be put in place for large-scale events in Orlando.
"This should not have happened, and no family should be going through this. We were trying to watch a show and have a good time," said Edgerton.
The drone show was organized by Sky Elements, a Texas-based company that performs events nationwide.
In a statement, Sky Elements said, “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery for those impacted at our Lake Eola show.” The company added that it remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards.
The city of Orlando also released a statement, saying, “Our thoughts are with the family and all those impacted by the outcome of this event. The city remains in contact with the vendor and the FAA, who will conduct a thorough investigation.”
It is not yet clear what caused the drones to collide. The FAA’s investigation is ongoing.
WESH 2 News will provide updates as more information becomes available.
