A cheerleader from Texas was injured during a competition held at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Gabrielle Langston was not hurt while her squad competed. She got hit in the head by a large umbrella that provides shade as she got off a bus at the sports complex, WFAA reported.
A storm had picked up the umbrella hitting her and another teammate in the back of the head, Gabrielle said.
Gabrielle’s coach said the 13-year-old and the other girl were knocked to the ground and bleeding.
Gabrielle said she blacked out.
Gabrielle’s mother, Rebecca Langston said of her daughter, “She did not see the umbrella coming. It hit her from behind, knocked her down onto concrete steps.”
The team had to compete without Gabrielle while she was checked out at an area hospital. She was diagnosed with a concussion and her parents told WFAA the teen could need physical and cognitive therapy because of the incident.
"They said I probably cannot cheer anymore," Gabrielle told WFAA.
The other girl had a concussion and needed staples to close the cut.
Rebecca Langston said the incident could have been prevented. She said the umbrella was not secured with pins or weights and that officials at Disney should have known about the storm and closed the umbrella to prevent them from being blown around, WFAA reported.
Rebecca Langston wants Disney to pay for Gabrielle’s medical treatment and is asking for an apology from the company.
A spokesperson from Walt Disney World told WFAA, "We've reached out to the family to express our care and concern."
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