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THE FLOOR OF a condominium clubhouse near Clemson University in the US collapsed during a large private party yesterday, hurtling dozens of people into the basement, authorities have said.
About 30 people were taken to local hospitals after the centre of the floor caved in at the clubhouse near the South Carolina university. Clemson City Police said nobody was trapped and none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
Video posted on social media shows a large part of the first floor falling as people danced, causing many of them to tumble to the floor below.
Clemson sophomore Larissa Stone told the Independent Mail of Anderson that the room was “packed” and a popular song was playing when the floor collapsed.
“So everyone was jumping. The beat was about to drop and literally the whole floor collapsed,” she said.
It happened so quickly. I stood up, and everyone was trying to climb out. People are under other people. People are hurt. People are bleeding. I had blood on my sneakers. It was really bad.
Partygoers screamed, and those who didn’t fall stood around the remaining edges of the floor and stared below in shock. Some people standing on the sidelines pulled out their cellphones to record the floor collapse.
A witness who attended the party said people were jumping and he heard a sudden “boom.”
“All you seen was falling, everybody’s hands up in the air,” Franzie Pendergrass told WYFF News 4.
Leroy Pearson said he went to try to help injured people and saw what he thought looked like broken ankles and legs.
“It was crazy,” Pearson said.
Police said the clubhouse at The Woodlands, about three miles from Clemson, had been leased for a private party.
Property manager Tal Slann told The Associated Press that the condominium complex was built in 2004-2005. He said he could not comment on whether there was a limit on the number of people who were supposed to use the clubhouse at one time.
“I can tell you there was a party. I can tell you there was a floor collapse. There were injuries. They were not life-threatening. Nobody was trapped,” he said.
Police said they were called about 12.30am yesterday. Ambulances rushed to the scene.
Slann sent residents of The Woodlands an email saying the floor in front of the clubhouse fireplace had collapsed during a party.
“The Clubhouse and pool area is OFF LIMITS to all,” said a copy of the email texted to the AP.
“The clubhouse will be inspected by structural engineers as soon as possible. From there, the homeowner’s association will determine how to rebuild the clubhouse to make it safe for all residents. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who were injured and we apologise for any inconvenience.”
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RIP little one. How heartbreaking. The poor little mite. Thoughts go out to his poor parents & that they find the strength to cope some how.
Such a sad story, if the HSE had concerns in the past why did they not act sooner? Such a waste of a life and the HSE have a lot to answer for
Without knowing the specifics of this case, it sounds like the boy may have died in his sleep, (IE: cardiac issues). Can we please hold the HSE bashing until after p/m results are released?
RIP Little Man, RIP.
Ya Tom. Serious assertions there based on what exactly?
Blaming James o Reilly is pathetic. Using this tragedy as a little political football is disgusting. The family, regardless of circumstance deserve more.
Only going on hearsay but it looks like there may be mental health problems involved and if so then I’m not surprised that the HSE’s systems have failed, we’ve seen it happen time and again. Such a tragedy.
Hearsay is a dangerous thing Fon. Imagine it were untrue? Heaping more pain on this family at a time of immense tragedy. Necessary???
Comments based on press release from the HSE stating they are familiar with the family as they have been monitoring them ….. Obviously not week enough I think
It’s a standard procedure in the case of infant death outside of a hospital setting.
of course it’s ultimately his job,he takes the huge salary and benefits to run the health service,if theres failings collectively or individually within the hse it ultimately falls in his lap in my opinion,he’s as bad as Harney and she was dreadful
Terrible thing to happen. Hope the family get the support they need. x
Comments based on press release from the HSE stating they are familiar with the family as they have been monitoring them ….. Obviously not week enough I think
I don’t know the specifics of this tragic incident and face it, neither does anyone else commenting on this page. Reading between the lines, yes mental health issues may well have been a factor. However, we don’t know what the HSE involvement with the family was before the death of the child and what other factors were at play.
It may well be the case that there was a failure of HSE systems or it could be the case that the standard of care was high and it was an unpreventable tragic outcome.
To suggest otherwise is unfair on all those concerned.
I think all managers should be responsible for employees in their company, otherwise why have them? If they can’t do the job, there’s plenty out there that can.
tragic,the poor little lad,if the hse are found to be at fault then James Reilly has blood on his hands
Really? Is James Reilly supposed to be personally monitoring EVERY employee in the HSE to see they do their jobs right? I’m no fan of his but you can’t seriously expect him to be held responsible for everything that goes on.
I read that he died of asphyxiation.
Front page of some newspaper this morning said the police are treating the death as suspicious. It always makes it so much more horrendous and heartbreaking. God love his little soul x
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