About a week and a half ago, a host on Fox & Friends hit someone with a flying axe… and on television!
Yes, you read that right.
While teasing an upcoming segment, host Pete Hegsworth chucked an axe at a pretty large wooden board with a bullseye. The axe went flying over the board and hit a drummer from West Point’s marching band.
The moment drummer Jeff Prosperie was hit didn’t actually make the cut (sorry!), but you can see the moment it hits him in this video from CNN. Although it’s not that bad, you may not want to watch.
It should be an absolute given that if you’re not very good at throwing knives or axes (or if it’s the first time you’ve ever done it) you should make sure there’s nobody behind the target. (Even if you are good, you should still make sure!)
The worst part is the host didn’t rush over to make sure he didn’t kill anyone.
To say drummer Jeff Prosperie is lucky is an understatement. He ended up being OK because the blunt end of the axe hit him. Here’s what he wrote on his Facebook page:
I was hit by an axe while performing a drum solo live on National TV…..words I never imagined saying! This happened last Sunday and I have been reluctant to post but starting to receive inquiries from concerned family and friends. I am thankful to God that the double sided blade only hit broadside on the outer elbow with significant impact and a couple of cuts as it fell along my wrist. It could have been much worse or fatal. Focusing on full physical and emotional recovery.
Even though everything turned out OK, let this be a reminder to practice extreme caution when wielding an axe or any sharp object at that.
July 7, 2015 at 10:48 am
Who’s the idiot that designed that wall as a backstop, and then put the target at the very top?
Obviously, if you put the target at the very top the thrower is going to aim there, and there’s virtually no margin for error; even an expert would occasionally launch one over the top.
Either the target needs to be about 2 feet lower, or preferably the backstop/wall needs to be about 3 feet higher.
July 7, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Yes, this was a failure on many levels, including the producer who decided to put the drummers behind the target. At least one person should have thought it through.