January 23, 2013
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Michael McComish, a high school wrestler in rural South Dakota, has found himself in the spotlight on internet videos since a spotlight literally fell on him during a match.
The Madison High School senior was on his hands and knees on the mat in the 160-pound match at his home gymnasium when a huge aluminum light fixture, estimated as weighing between 80 and 100 pounds, fell from the ceiling 30 feet onto him.
McComish escaped with only minor cuts from the incident last Friday, although the video of the light falling upon him has been shown nationwide on US news programs and ESPN and gained YouTube attention for him as well.
"Just letting everyone know I'm fine! Stitches in my head. Gash on forehead and back of me head and little cuts from the glass nothin serious," he posted on his Twitter page.
"nothing anybody could've done about it and I'm perfectly fine right now!"
School officials told the Daily Leader newspaper that the light fell after a rope broke that was holding the spotlight, which was brought in for the annual "Madison Square Garden Night" event.
McComish and rival Thomas Swanson of Chamberlain went out of bounds during the first period of their match and were brought to the middle of the mat just before the spotlight fell, according to the newspaper.
"I walked over to the center, set, and the next thing I know the lights are on top of me," McComish told television station KSFY.
"It was bright. I couldn't stand up. It was awkward. I fell back down and got some cuts on my knees."
