A cop was killed after a Christmas tree toppled over at a festive light switch on
Police officer Kevin Andrés Navas was working at the yuletide event.
He was taken to hospital in a critical state after being crushed.
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The 19-year-old tragically did not survive the accident due to the severity of his injuries.
Dozens of people ran and gathered together to help lift the tree off of the ground.
Moving the metal structure, which stood 30 metres tall, proved to be extremely difficult due to its size.
Chilling screams and shouting can be heard from those at the event intended to celebrate the switching on of Christmas lights.
For a brief moment, the decoration was lifted showing nothing but darkness underneath.
Cranes and machinery set up the Christmas tree, which had a huge metal star on the top.
Families attended the event which took place on Wednesday (11 Dec) at Bolivar Park, located in the municipality of Girardot, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
Tragic Kevin was the only person crushed.
According to witnesses, the upper structure of the tree broke which caused the entire thing to collapse.
Others who were in Bolivar Park at the time the accident was recorded stated that they heard a crunching sound.
People ran quickly to dodge the Christmas tree before it crashed to the ground.
The Mayor’s Office has since announced an investigation for who was responsible for not securing the metal structure, as reported by Need To Know.
Mayor Salomón Said Arias said that authorities would be working to determine why there were no adequate security measures to prevent incidents like this.
Due to the tragic accident, an alert has been extended to other areas with Christmas decorations in several parts of Girardot.
The Mayor has called that all areas be extensively checked to ensure that figures, lights, and wiring, comply with the corresponding regulations.
The mayor said “I deeply regret the passing of Kevin Andres Navas, assistant police officer who was supporting security work in the Bolivar Park in Girardot when the accident with the structure of the Christmas tree occurred.”
“I sympathize with his family, his relatives and the police.
“I accompany them in their sorrow.
“It’s a fact that fills me with deep sorrow at a time when we have wanted to bring all the Girardot residents and tourists happiness and a message of unity.
“As a consequence of this unfortunate event I have requested the company Iamsa, which has managed for 18 years the public lighting of Girardot, to urgently deliver a detailed report of what happened, with the aim of establishing the reasons for which this accident was generated.
“I have requested the removal of the tree and the review of all structures that have been installed in our municipality to ensure that all figures, lights and wiring are in accordance with the rule.
“I have also requested the Legal Office to start from now on a review of what we can legally request as the Municipal Administration to accompany this family that today goes through this pain.
“We are waiting for this report and that of the Police and Emergency Units who attended the case to inform citizens of our further decisions.
“I will also ask the supervisory, control and surveillance entities to initiate investigations to determine whether there are disciplinary, prosecutor or criminal motives in these events.”
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