Las Vegas Weekly

December 19, 2008 · 10:58 AM

David Copperfield goes on the record about illusion accident

By Robin Leach

David Copperfield.

Photo: Las Vegas Magazine

Illusionist David Copperfield has just spoken about the industrial fan blade accident that sent one of his on-stage technicians to a hospital with a broken arm and facial cuts. Click HERE for our breaking Vegas DeLuxe story that we posted last night.

“Many people assume that the death-defying illusions I do on stage are not dangerous,” David said. “This unfortunate accident shows that couldn’t be further from the truth, and we’re just thankful that Brandon’s injuries weren’t worse.”

I have now been told officially by one of David’s representatives -- for background briefing purposes -- that during the illusion where David attempts to walk through the rotating blades of a 12-foot-high industrial fan, its platform and the fan itself were being rotated by one of David’s onstage illusion technicians. Just prior to David himself walking through the fan, Brandon -- whose last name is being withheld for his privacy -- was accidentally pulled into the vortex of the moving fan blades, causing injury to his arm and face.

David halted the show and called for the curtain to be closed so that paramedics could immediately be summoned and attend to the accident. Brandon, a young man in his 20s, was then taken by ambulance to our University Medical Center. Brandon broke his arm in multiple places.

We’ve now learned that there were several hours of surgery for doctors to insert pins and bolts into the broken arm and that the young man received stitches for his facial injuries. David’s crew waited at the hospital until being told he was resting and OK. Brandon is currently recovering in the hospital and is expected to be released within a day or two.

Yesterday morning, David was there when Brandon woke in his hospital room to wish him well and a speedy recovery. Keeping his sense of humor, Brandon cracked jokes, and David presented him with a children’s magic set for Brandon to practice on during his recovery!

No other shows have been canceled. David’s amazing crew rehearsed all day yesterday to fill in for Brandon -- and the magic shows at the Hollywood Theater in MGM went on exactly as scheduled last night without mishap or incident. David is performing some shows four times daily over the holiday season, and his current run on the Strip continues through Jan. 12.

Share This