Universal Sydney is investigating the structural integrity of its main upstairs stage after Sydney drag queen Coco Jumbo seriously injured herself during a performance of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”, resulting in an ambulance being called and surgery.
Video footage shows Jumbo lip-syncing the words “walk out the door” before she tumbles downwards as the stage collapses beneath her.
“I can’t even remember what happened,” Jumbo said, adding that she went “straight through” the stage.
There were “no broken bones, but I got a slice to the bone under my kneecap,” Jumbo said.
Jumbo was kept in hospital until Tuesday morning before she was given prescription medication, ordered not to walk on the affected leg, and told to use crutches to move around.
“They cleaned the cut out and they ended up putting me out [using anaesthetic] and now I can’t walk on it,” Jumbo said.
“The drugs they put me on make me fall asleep in minutes.
“I just need to wait for the cut to heal and then I’ll need physio after.”
Jumbo said she’d know more on Friday about the next steps on her road to recovery.
Richie Haines, the chief operating officer of the Universal Hotels group, which owns Universal and other venues, said the incident involved part of a modular stage collapsing.
“The safety of our performers is a top priority and we are investigating how this could have occurred,” Haines said.
“We can confirm … that the stage was assembled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, so we are working with the manufacturer and an independent engineer to find the exact cause of the accident.
“Once the cause is identified, we will ensure the stage is either repaired or replaced before being used again.”
“More importantly, we are in contact with the performer and are offering every support possible during their recovery.”
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: [email protected]
