Canadian WWF wrestler killed in freak accident [Reuters]

Canadian WWF wrestler killed in freak accident
From Reuters
Sunday, May 23, 1999

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A professional wrestler plunged 50 feet (15 metres) to his death on Sunday in a freak accident which shocked ringside fans and fellow wrestlers, police said.

Canadian Owen Hart died when he fell on his head as he was being lowered into the ring from a wire at the start of a pay-per-view World Wrestling Federation match at Kemper Arena.

Kansas City Police spokesman L.C. Clark said: ``He fell from the cable when he was being lowered down.''

The 33-year-old Calgary-born Hart, who went under the name of Blue Blazer, had performed the stunt before. Emergency officials who tried frantically to revive Hart in the ring speculated that the cable was not properly hooked up to the wrestler's harness.

WWF president Vince McMahon said: ``There is an ongoing investigation. We don't have any answers how this happened yet. We at the WWF and all of Owen's fans around the world are saddened by this tragic accident.''

The accident occurred about 75 minutes into the show as the introduction for the Hart bout was about to begin, but was not seen by television viewers who were being shown recorded highlights at the time.

The show was halted for 15 minutes as paramedics worked on Hart before resuming to complete the rest of the matches on the card.