An accident occurred at a resort in Aurora, Colorado on Saturday May 6th. At around 9:50am, the aquatic center at Gaylord Rockies Resort had around 50 guests inside of it. Their metal ductwork HVAC system collapsed into the pool. Six people were injured, two with life-threatening injuries. Firefighters in the area received multiple calls about the collapse.
According to the local authorities:
“Around 9:50 a.m. multiple callers notified Aurora911 that a collapse of the HVAC system occurred inside the pool area at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center located at 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd. A number of units from Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) were dispatched to the scene, including ladder trucks, engine trucks, and the department’s Technical Rescue Team whose members specialize in collapsed structures.
Eight firefighters from nearby Aurora Fire Station No. 16 were already on scene conducting training at the Gaylord property, working in the stairwells there. This allowed a quick response of highly trained paramedics and EMTs who went right away to the pool to assist patients.”
Agency spokeswoman Sherri-Jo Stowell said that the Heating and Ventilating system was mounted on the ceiling and covered nearly the entire area of the pool. Stowell relayed that some of the victims had penetrating wounds cuts and others had injuries consistent with being crushed. Luckily because eight of the firefighters who responded were on site already conducting training exercises they were able to get there quickly and start treatment on the victims.
The resort has released a statement, saying they were devastated by the incident. “Moving forward, we are focused on helping our affected guests and associates, and we are working with the appropriate experts to conduct a thorough investigation.”
