Free-Fall Station Causes Injuries
Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 -- 12:43 PM
A 25-foot free-fall onto a cushion was a new addition at Country Fest this year but there were injuries.Chippewa County sheriff?s Capt. Gene Gutsch said that one guy broke his neck, there was a back injury and two broken ankles. The free-fall station was set up next to the Leinie Lodge at the top of the hill, inside the concert grounds and Gutsch said he was surprised when he heard the hospital report about the severity of the neck injury.
Despite the injuries, the sheriff?s office did not order the free-fall station to be closed.
Those injuries underscored a problem Gutsch and Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk noticed at this year?s Country Fest: Large crowds and not enough security to handle potential problems.
Kowalczyk said 14 deputies, or one for every 1,000 audience members, typically are on duty at the fests, with an additional couple officers at the end of each night during the headline performance.
Gutsch said he has asked for an independent audit of the number of people attending this year?s Country Fest, which took place in rural Cadott Thursday through Sunday. Kowalczyk said it can be a problem to have so few security officers on hand.
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