It happened to me yesterday at a highschool football game. The game didn't even start yet. They were introducing the players. The players were in a huddle in the end zone waiting for their names to be announced and then they would run to the 50 yard line. I stayed back and was just shooting the huddle as every player left. That was some good footage.
Well, on the last player I was going to run with him as he ran down the line of players. It was supposed to be this cool shot. Well, he was just standing around for awhile, then he just went. So I tried to follow, and that is when I lost it. I started off okay, then I tried to run faster to keep up. Well, then my foot didn't hit the ground right, I slid, the rig got out in front of me, and I ran for a few more steps trying to get the rig in control, then the rig took me for a ride down to the ground.
As I was falling I know I was thinking three things. 1. Oh S***, I am falling. 2. Throw the arm and sled out to the side. 3. The camera is going to be broken now.
So I hit the ground with the arm and sled off to the right side. Which is a good thing becuase I would have landed right on the rig. They say I was on the ground for awhile with my eyes closed not moving. I must have been knocked out. All I remember was hitting the ground and then opening my eyes. The black out was that short for me. The first thing I heard was "let's get him up." After talking with trainers and other people, I guess I was out for awhile. I think I heard like 20 seconds.
So they lift me up by the handles on the back of my vest. I can't really stand to well, I am wobbling all over the place trying to get my bearings. Meanwhile I am also looking at everything I own to make sure it's still in one piece. It's kind of sad, I was more worried about my rig then me trying to walk straight. After they get me to the side lines, they are still asking if I am okay, I am saying, "yeah, I think I am okay."
The fall didn't do that much damage to the system. The camera's eyepiece clip on the viewfinder to lock the eyepiece in place broke because that was the first part of the rig to hit, it took the major blow I think. The DC in on the camera bent a little bit. That was the only major damage to the camera. The lens was fine and it was still recording and showing a picture when they picked it up and brought me to the sidelines. That was a big relief for me.
My rig is Howard's MK-V lite. I have Walter's vest and an EFP arm. Howard's sled survived the impact, which is amazing and I am thankfull. Everything on the sled was where it shoud have been, nothing bent, nothing falling off. It must have had some force to deal with, even though I don't think it was the first to hit. Thank you Howard for making such a good sled.
The arm was fine, nothing bent, the post was still in the gimbal when I got up. The only thing that broke was on Walter's vest. The little clip that clips the shoulder straps to the rest of the vest broke. Of all things to break, I am glad it was only that, that was an easy repair. I was surprised the arm on walter's vest didn't get bent or anything, the socket block was fine and functioning just like it would always. It amazes me how much didn't break during the fall. Thank's Walter for making a strong vest that can survive an impact.
Damage to me was a rug burn on my elbow. I really don't know how else to explain the injury. The have the new astro turf at the highschool. It's very soft and nice to land on. I was wearing knee pads and I don't know if I landed on them, but my knees are okay. That is the only injury I know of, unless you count the being knocked out part. Nothing broke, nothing hurts besides my little rug burn this morning and I am thankfull for that.
All and all, I am surprised at how everything survived. I know one of the things I was thinking when they got me up was, "I don't have a rig anymore." Everything survived and I kept shooting after making the repair and resting to get my bearings and watch the footage to see the fall from the camera's prespective. Which I might add is actually pretty cool looking (probally only to me though).
I just wanted to share my falling down story with you all becuase I think it's so wierd how it all happened and how it turned out. Also becuase I fell down in front of some 1000 fans, alot of whom know who I am. Great time to fall, isn't it? I do want to ask, how many of you guys and girls out there have ever been knocked out while operating?
Always fly safe
-Tom
