Stuntman Seriously Injured in Latest 'Spider-Man' Mishap

A stuntman doubling for the lead actor in the problem-plagued Broadway production of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" is hospitalized in serious condition today after falling during the final minutes of a performance.

Bellevue Hospital spokesman Stephen Bohlen told AOL News that Christopher Tierney was admitted with undisclosed injuries. Bohlen had no details on the nature of the accident, but the New York Daily News reported that the actor's harness snapped near the end of Monday's performance of the $65 million show at the Foxwoods Theater.

An unidentified spokesman for the show told The New York Times that the actor was injured after falling several feet from a platform about seven minutes before the show was over.

An audience member, Steven Tartick, told the paper that the stuntman appeared to fall into an open pit. "You heard screams," Tartick said. "You heard a woman screaming and sobbing."

The New York State Department of Labor was at the theater this morning to start an investigation into the mechanical aspects of the show, agency spokesman Leo Rosales told AOL News. The department has oversight over the 35 aerial maneuvers and the mechanical equipment such as ropes and harnesses, all of which it had previously deemed safe, he said.

"We'll be looking at the equipment that may have contributed to the accident, talking to witnesses, talking with the production company," Rosales said. "We're going to find out what happened here and then look at possible next steps."

The state can't shut down the show but can make sure any problems are corrected. "We release our findings and look at next steps and ways to make sure whatever happened -- if it is mechanical -- does not happen again," Rosales said.

There was no timetable for when the investigation would be complete.

Rosales said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is charged with investigating the victim's side of a workplace accident, but a spokeswoman from that agency did not return a call to AOL News.

After the actor fell, there was a blackout, then an announcement of a delay and then, finally, word came that the show was over, according to media reports.

The musical, the most expensive show ever created, has been plagued by injuries and delays.

The show held its first preview production late last month, a performance marked by several glitches. The production was stopped five times due to technical problems, and the first act was cut short, leaving Spidey dangling 10 feet above the audience, the Times reported.

Most of the aerial moves went off without a hitch and there were no injuries that night, a concern because two performers were injured in an aerial move earlier this fall, the paper said, and an actress suffered a concussion.

On Friday, the show announced it would delay its opening by four weeks, until Feb. 7, to make creative changes, the Times said.