Man in stable condition after 100-kg ice chunk falls on his head
Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 8:08 AM - As the weather warms, walking near downtown buildings cans be dangerous due to the risk of falling chunks of ice.
Just ask a 56-year-old Ontario man, who was struck by a 100-kg chunk of falling ice while walking in downtown Ottawa. The falling ice left him with multiple injuries, including a concussion and a fractured collarbone. The ice fell from a nearby building at around 5:15 p.m.
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Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after and took the man, who was conscious, to hospital. His condition was described as serious, but stable.
The man was said to be looking rattled after the hit by a witness that spoke to CBC News.
People who live in the area say it is not an isolated incident, and paramedics admit to receiving multiple calls regarding falling ice each spring.
Walking past buildings during the spring thaw can be scary as hell. #ottawa pic.twitter.com/wlbWZayuHZ
— Mark Blevis (@markblevis) March 11, 2015
Another massive ice chunk fell on a car parked at a nearby home shortly after
Ice falling from buildings was not entirely unexpected as Ottawa warmed up to 8 C on Tuesday, the warmest the city has felt all year long.
The higher temperatures also led to the closure of the Rideau Canal skateway. After 59 consecutive days—the longest stretch in its history—officials determined the quality of the ice surface was unsafe for skaters.
Source: CBC News
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