AURORA, Colo. — Six people were hospitalized, two with life-threatening injuries, when part of a heating and ventilation system crashed down upon a pool deck at the Gaylord Rockies Resort Saturday morning.
The six people injured in the incident were transported to local hospitals for treatment. At least one of the victims, a 53-year-old man, was taken to UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital with brain injuries.
The incident occurred around 9:50 a.m. at the 1000-room Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard. Eight firefighters from a nearby fire station were already on scene conducting training at the resort, which opened in 2018.
A guest at the resort, Jenn Spykerman, told Denver7 that her son Trevor was in the pool and narrowly missed getting injured when the large metal ductwork came crashing down.
Trevor told Denver7 that he witnessed what was likely mechanical parts falling from the pipes before the collapse.
"I see like this stuff leaking from the big metal pipes. And then all of a sudden it comes falling," Trevor said. "My first reaction was to get my stuff and then get outside."
He described the scene as chaotic and very loud.
"When I got out, I had to like run over a bunch of rubble from the roof that came down with it," he said. "It was all of like the metal stuff and like the air conditioning and stuff."
Jenn Spykerman said she is just glad her son is OK.
"It makes me wonder if I should let him ever go anywhere without me ever again," she said.
Aurora Fire Rescue said Marriott International, the company that owns Gaylord Hotels, will be responsible for investigating the cause of the collapse. On Sunday, the resort released the following statement:
"We are devastated by this traumatic incident. On Saturday, our top priorities were to support emergency responders and render assistance to those directly impacted, and we’re very grateful to the Aurora Fire Department for their swift actions. Moving forward, we are focused on helping our affected guests and associates, and we are working with the appropriate experts to conduct a thorough investigation," the Gaylord Rockies statement read.
Aurora city leaders released the following statement Saturday:
“Our hearts go out to all those who were injured today, to their families and to those traumatized by witnessing what occurred. We expect a thorough investigation, and our immediate focus is the well-being of those involved, and we thank our first responders for their quick response and care,” the City of Aurora statement read.
