HVAC Equipment Collapses On Pool Injuring 6 People

Several individuals sustained injuries on Saturday when HVAC equipment collapsed at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora. Although two individuals suffered life-threatening injuries, the Aurora Fire Rescue stated that the investigation into the collapse will be conducted by the resort. According to the agency, six people were injured, with two of them taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Aurora Fire Chief Alec Oughton informed the press during a news conference following the incident that the Gaylord’s management team would be responsible for the investigation. He emphasized that it was not a fire department investigation but rather an in-house investigation by the resort to establish what had occurred and find answers.

A resort guest informed news outlets that the resort was evacuated after a fire alarm was activated. The witness saw an injured child receiving medical attention on the pool deck. They observed that the equipment that had collapsed seemed to be a pool duct.

The witness recorded videos of the injured being treated at the indoor pool deck. Another individual stated that they had been told by resort staff that there had been a ventilation failure and that there were at least two victims.

Trevor Spykerman, a 12-year-old resort guest who was at the scene of the incident, reported that the collapse lasted about 15 seconds and described it as happening in slow motion. He saw no one injured during the collapse but observed a man with red marks on his back shortly after the incident. The resort staff and lifeguards immediately responded, followed later by paramedics, and evacuated the building.

Fire Chief Oughton said that the initial call for a structure collapse was received at 9:50 a.m., with some units already on the scene doing training inside the hotel and were the first to respond. The pool area had between 50 to 100 people at the time, and there is currently no indication of what led up to the incident. The Gaylord Rockies management and the fire department are conducting investigations into the incident. There is no current threat of a future collapse.

Featured Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.com