A festive holiday drone show at Lake Eola in Orlando turned into a terrifying scene when dozens of drones unexpectedly plummeted from the sky, injuring spectators and leaving a 7-year-old boy in need of open heart surgery.
Adriana Edgerton, the boy’s mother, recounted the horrifying experience to local news outlet WESH. She described how she and her family were enjoying the show when, suddenly, multiple drones collided and crashed into the crowd below.
READ: Michigan Woman Seeks Answers After Her Mom Vanishes In Florida
“Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious,” Edgerton told the outlet. “He had blood coming out of his face.”
Witness video footage shows the chaotic scene as drones, which were programmed to form festive shapes and patterns, fell from the sky, forcing people to scramble for safety.
The boy, who appears to have been struck in the chest by one of the falling drones, was rushed to the hospital.
Edgerton shared on Facebook that her son was undergoing open heart surgery and expressed her anger towards the City of Orlando and Sky Elements Drone, the company responsible for the show.
“God please be with me! My baby is going into emergency heart surgery off of just trying to watch a drone show at Lake Eola Park! I am beyond words beyond terrified! City of Orlando – Government and Sky Elements Drones really have some explaining to do. They will be held accountable for what was done to my son. I pray he makes it out of this!” said Edgerton on Facebook.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. The FAA emphasized that drone shows are subject to strict regulations and require waivers for operating multiple drones simultaneously.
READ: SHOCKING: Illegal Migrant Catches Woman On Fire On NYC Subway, Watches Her Burn To Death
Sky Elements, the Texas-based company that organized the show, released a statement expressing their concern for the injured and their commitment to safety. They stated, “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery for those impacted at our Lake Eola show.”
The City of Orlando is cooperating with the FAA investigation and offering support to the boy’s family.
The cause of the drone malfunction remains unclear. This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of drone light shows, especially in crowded public spaces.
A GoFundMe page has been launched for the Edgerton family and can be found here.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.