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Aerialist who fell at Beverly Center broke numerous bones, spent 7 weeks in wheelchair

The air acrobat who fell three stories during a Christmas performance at the Beverly Center spent seven weeks in a wheelchair with numerous broken bones, she said in an interview.

Sarah Romanowsky, 26, said on "Good Morning America" that she doesn't remember the accident.

"It terrified a lot of people. Fortunately, I remember nothing," she said. "That's a blessing."

Romanowsky's injuries were more serious than originally believed. She said she broke her pelvis in four places, shattered her wrist and broke six ribs.

One witness said Romanowsky appeared to fall about 40 feet, from the third level of the shopping center to the first.

She slipped while hanging upside down from a solid metal hoop suspended from the ceiling during the finale of the show "Hunky Santa and the Candy Cane Girls."

She managed to turn herself right side up before falling into a video projection cube. She was not wearing a harness, and there were no nets to break her fall.

Romanowsky said she's recovering well.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: A performance several days before the accident. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

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Comments () | Archives (10)

this was a stupid accident. Hunky Santa, high-wire event, this is not a circus, it is a shopping center.
I never shop at Beverly Center anymore. It's reasons like this.

No nets? No safety equipment? Risky !!


I am glad she's gonna be OK.

The mall is for shopping, not circus acts. Lucky nobody else got injured or killed.

Personally, I'd thought the general modern society had gotten over blood sport--high wire acts without a net, that kinda thing. And, isn't it illegal anyway?

I wish "Hunky Santa" had fallen.

I agree, what does this stuff have to do with Christmas and shopping. Thank god she is recovering and did not injury anyone else.

She's lucky she's still alive & not paralyzed.

I have a lot of friends who do this - you won't see me up there. Even with a net you can break your neck if you fall wrong. Not worth it - it reminds me of all those cheerleaders who get hurt every year, paralyzed - pushing the boundaries like that.

Good for her!

Good for your Rich David


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