Pro wrestler suffers fatal fall into ring at Kemper [Kansas City Star]

Pro wrestler suffers fatal fall into ring at Kemper
By Matt Stearns and Jason King -- Kansas City Star
Sunday, May 23, 1999

A member of professional wrestling's most legendary family fell 50 feet to his death Sunday before a sold-out audience at Kemper Arena.

Owen Hart, a 13-year wrestling veteran known for his acrobatic style, was being lowered from the rafters on a guide when the cable snapped, dropping him four stories.

His father, Stu Hart, said Sunday that Owen, 33, had performed the stunt before.

"Owen was a pretty careful athlete who wouldn't have taken unnecessary risks or chances," Stu Hart told a reporter from his home in Calgary, Alberta.

Kansas City Fire Department spokesman Jim Bradbury said the harness carrying Hart was not properly attached.

"He was up on some scaffolding above the ring," Bradbury said. "They were going to lower him down on some sort of cable, and apparently the cable wasn't hooked up. He landed in the ring."

The wrestling event was televised live on pay-per-view cable television and seen around the country. Hart's fall happened in the second part of the event called "Over the Edge." The first part of the event, "Sunday Night Heat," was televised live on the USA network.

Paramedics spent 15 minutes in the ring trying to resuscitate Hart. He then was rushed to Truman Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

At a news conference just before 10 p.m., a distraught-looking Vince McMahon announced Hart's death. McMahon is the president of the World Wrestling Federation.

"We in the World Wrestling Federation are saddened by the tragic accident that occurred here tonight. We send our condolences and sympathy to Owen Hart's family; his wife, Martha; and their two very young children.

"All of Owen's fans all over the world are saddened by this tragic loss. Right now there are no answers. We have no answers as to how this happened yet. We will shortly."

McMahon then left the news conference without taking questions.

The accident occurred between matches as Owen Hart prepared to enter the ring from the rafters in his role as the Blue Blazer.

"I was sitting in the front corner by the ring," said Jesse McDonald, of Kansas City. "He was moving pretty fast (as he fell). His chin and neck hit the top rope."

The arena fell into silence. A few seconds later, several WWF officials and Kansas City police officers rushed to Hart's aid.

"I really didn't know if it was legit," McDonald said. "I mean, this is wrestling. They do some crazy stuff."

Kansas City police administered first aid for about five minutes before removing him from the ring.

"They took him out on stretcher, and a cop was on top of him, riding him like a bull, giving him chest compressions," said Dennis Roberts of Blue Springs.

As he was being carried out, the crowd burst into applause for the fallen wrestler. The matches continued. That upset some fans.

"I think they should have stopped the show out of respect for Owen," said Richard Lisenbee of Kansas City, Kan. He left with his 5-year-old son, Zane.

Kevin Brice of Blue Springs left the show with his 12-year-old nephew and 10-year-old daughter in tow.

"It was disgusting" for them to continue the show, said Brice. "For kids to see that, for this to be so-called family entertainment, for them to continue on as if nothing has happen, is just sad."

Hart's mother, Helen Hart, said she always worried about one of her sons becoming disabled in the ring.

"It's a dangerous sport in more ways than you can know," she told a reporter. "I just never thought one of my boys would be killed."