PEABODY – Several children were hurt when a giant LEGO display collapsed during a New Year’s Eve event for kids in Peabody, Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Peabody Fire Department, balloons were going to be released from netting inside the “In the Game” family fun center and arcade. The company posted a video of the setup on Facebook before it opened to the public Tuesday.
The netting was attached to an eight-foot tall LEGO structure, but the staff was having trouble releasing the balloons once kids and their families came in. Someone pulled too hard and the LEGO display tipped over and fell about 12 feet onto the guests below, the fire department said.
A still image from cell phone video showing an eight-foot tall LEGO display collapsing during a balloon drop at a New Year’s Eve event for kids in Peabody, Mass. / Credit: CBS Boston
A total of ten people were hurt. Six of them were children and four were adults, according to authorities, but all of the injuries were described as “minor” scrapes and cuts. Some of those hurt were taken to Salem Hospital for treatment and others went to Lahey Medical Center in Peabody.
Ambulances were called to In The Game family fun center and arcade in Peabody on Dec. 31, 2024. / Credit: CBS Boston
“It was pure chaos”
Lawren Turco was there with her family at the time.
“We watched the entire balloon drop had no idea anything happened until we were going to leave promptly following the balloon drop,” she told WBZ-TV in a message.
“Large LEGO pieces were everywhere, kids were crying, there were tons of people all in the office some with ice packs over their heads and people allowing their children to steal the Lego pieces like souvenirs. It was pure chaos. I had no idea of the true events until after the incident.”
In the Game was closed briefly after the incident, but re-opened a short time later. There has been no comment yet from the company.
Peabody is about a half-hour north of Boston.
LEGO display collapses on kids, families after balloon drop mishap
In a shocking turn of events at a local LEGO convention, a display featuring a towering structure made entirely of LEGO bricks collapsed on unsuspecting kids and families after a balloon drop mishap.
Witnesses at the event described a chaotic scene as the display came crashing down, sending a wave of LEGO bricks tumbling onto the crowd below. Many children were reportedly injured in the incident, with some suffering minor cuts and bruises.
“It was like something out of a nightmare,” said one parent who was at the convention with their child. “One moment we were all enjoying the balloon drop, and the next thing we knew, the LEGO display was falling on top of us.”
Emergency services were quickly called to the scene to assist those who were injured, and the event organizers have since issued a statement apologizing for the incident.
“We are deeply sorry for the accident that occurred at our LEGO convention,” the statement read. “The safety of our attendees is our top priority, and we are working closely with authorities to investigate what went wrong.”
As the investigation into the incident continues, many are left wondering how such a tragedy could have occurred at a seemingly innocent event like a LEGO convention. In the meantime, our thoughts are with the families affected by this unfortunate event.
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