Walk on hot coals injures 21 in US
Source: Agencies |
July 23, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
US fire officials said 21 people at an event last Thursday hosted by motivational speaker Tony Robbins suffered burns while walking across hot coals and three of the injured were treated at hospitals.
The injuries took place during the first day of a four-day event at the San Jose Convention Center hosted by Robbins called "Unleash the Power Within." Most of those hurt had second and third degree burns, said San Jose Fire Department Captain Reggie Williams.
Walking across hot coals on lanes measuring three meters long and heated to between 649 to 1,093 degrees Celsius provides attendees an opportunity to "understand that there is absolutely nothing you can't overcome," according to the motivational speaker's website.
Robbins Research International said in a written statement that 6,000 attendees of the event walked across the coals.
Organizers had an "open burn permit" and medical staff at the event, and there was also a fire inspector on the scene, Williams said.
"Once they (the medical staff) became overwhelmed, our inspector called for us," Williams said.
Witness Jonathan Correll was not attending the event, but when he saw a large crowd gathered on a closed-off street near the convention center, he got off the light rail he was riding to see what was going on.
"I just heard these screams of agony," he said. "People were in pain. It sounded like people were being tortured."
Correll, 25, of San Jose, said he saw three ambulances, about 10 to 15 people on the ground being treated by paramedics and some people being wheeled away on stretchers.
Participant Sahar Madani told KTVU-TV that attendees were warned they might get burns or blisters.
Robbins Research International said last Friday, "We have been safely providing this experience for more than three decades, and always under the supervision of medical personnel."
The injuries took place during the first day of a four-day event at the San Jose Convention Center hosted by Robbins called "Unleash the Power Within." Most of those hurt had second and third degree burns, said San Jose Fire Department Captain Reggie Williams.
Walking across hot coals on lanes measuring three meters long and heated to between 649 to 1,093 degrees Celsius provides attendees an opportunity to "understand that there is absolutely nothing you can't overcome," according to the motivational speaker's website.
Robbins Research International said in a written statement that 6,000 attendees of the event walked across the coals.
Organizers had an "open burn permit" and medical staff at the event, and there was also a fire inspector on the scene, Williams said.
"Once they (the medical staff) became overwhelmed, our inspector called for us," Williams said.
Witness Jonathan Correll was not attending the event, but when he saw a large crowd gathered on a closed-off street near the convention center, he got off the light rail he was riding to see what was going on.
"I just heard these screams of agony," he said. "People were in pain. It sounded like people were being tortured."
Correll, 25, of San Jose, said he saw three ambulances, about 10 to 15 people on the ground being treated by paramedics and some people being wheeled away on stretchers.
Participant Sahar Madani told KTVU-TV that attendees were warned they might get burns or blisters.
Robbins Research International said last Friday, "We have been safely providing this experience for more than three decades, and always under the supervision of medical personnel."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
