ORLANDO, Fla. —
A guest visiting the Mall at Millenia in Orlando had to be rushed to the hospital over the weekend after a holiday decoration fell from the ceiling and hit the person.
This incident has been classified as an industrial accident, Orlando police said on Monday.
“I heard like a really big noise, like a bang almost,” Brittany Piniero said.
Piniero and other witnesses recorded video capturing moments after the large decorative star dropped from the ceiling and hit someone on an escalator.
“I started to see people pile up by the railing to look down,” Piniero said.
From the second level, her video shows mall security and first responders render aid to the injured guest.
“Something so simple like going to the mall, and then an ornament falls on you, and then you’re stuck in ICU, like you don’t think about those things, you know?” Piniero said.
The Orlando Fire Department said it transported the patient as a trauma alert before turning over the scene to Orlando police to investigate.
The Mall at Millenia sent WESH 2 the following statement about this incident:
“On Saturday, Oct. 31, a holiday decoration fell inside The Mall at Millenia, causing an injury to a guest. Mall security and first responders responded immediately, and the guest was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and care. Our thoughts are with the guest and their family, and we are wishing them a full and speedy recovery. The safety of our guests, retailers, and employees is our highest priority. As a precaution, we have closed that area while we conduct a thorough review of what happened.”
Piniero said the mall should reconsider hanging heavy decorations from the ceiling.
“It was very traumatic,” she said. “The crazy thing is, I had to go to the mall the next day, and having that thought in my head, like looking up, like to see if there’s any like thing hanging from the ceiling.”
Orlando police said this case will be referred to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for further review.