A terrifying video showed drones part of a Christmas light show plummeting to the ground, with one of them striking and seriously injuring a young boy.
Alexander Edgerton, just seven years old, had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency heart surgery after getting hit with a falling drone at Saturday’s Lake Eola Park show in Orlando, Florida.
The event was sponsored by the city of Orlando and during the 6:30pm show, ‘several small drones collided and fell into a crowd,’ according to a release by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is investigating the incident.Â
There was a second 15-minute show scheduled at 8pm, but it was canceled after the city cited ‘technical difficulties’ with the drones.
Adriana Edgerton, the injured boy’s mother, said her family was watching the show before Alexander was hit in the chest and the lip.
‘Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and right when we knew it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious, blood coming out of his face,’ Edgerton told WESH 2.
‘I feel so bad, it’s three days before Christmas,’ she said, adding that Alexander has been in the hospital ever since he was hit.
According to he Orlando Fire Department, Alexander was the only person injured at the show gone awry.
During a Saturday Christmas light show in Orlando, drones were seen dropping from the sky
Pictured: Still lit up drones were seen falling into the lake and lying on the grass at Lake Eola Park
Alexander Edgerton, 7, is pictured in a hospital bed after getting hit in the chest and lip with one of the falling drones
According to a GoFundMe set up by the family, Alexander will be spending Christmas in the hospital ICU.
As of early Monday morning, the fundraiser has brought in $615 toward a $20,000 goal.
In a Facebook post, Edgerton named and shamed the Orlando city government and the company behind the light show, Sky Elements Drones.
‘City of Orlando Government and Sky Elements Drones really have some explaining to do. They will be held accountable for what was done to my son. I pray he makes it out of this!’ Edgerton wrote.
The city said this was its second year contracting with Sky Elements Drones for its light show, ClickOrlando reported.
The company released a statement Sunday saying they are working with the FAA and the city to ‘determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired.’
‘Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21. The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused,’ the statement began.
It continued: ‘Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.’
Adriana Edgerton, the injured boy’s mother, named and shamed the Orlando city government and the company behind the light show, Sky Elements Drones
Pictured: One of the drones that fell hundreds of feet to the ground during the 6:30pm show
The FAA explained that drone arrays and aerial light shows are subject to its regulations.
‘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,’ the federal agency said.
The FAA said it checks the software controlling the drones, sets up procedures to ensure people are a safe distance from the show, and comes up with plans in case drones do fall. It also makes sure the drone operator has enough people to run the show.Â
Numerous people shared videos on social media of what was supposed to be a delightful holiday event but turned into a living nightmare.
Philippe, from the X account MosquitoCoFL Podcast, was at the show with his son and thought to take out his phone when the drones started dropping out of the sky.
In his video, a child could be heard saying, ‘Are they supposed to be falling?’
In the aftermath of the incident, police were seen collecting downed drones and putting them into evidence bags.Â
