Press Releases
Lasers blind fans at Russian festival, law suits follow
CMU Daily reports that at least twelve, and possibly as many as thirty people were blinded at a festival in Russia earlier this month after lasers were reflected into their eyes. Due to poor weather, the organisers of the Aquamarine Open Air Festival in Kirzhach erected large tents, but neglected to reprogramme the lightshow for indoor use. As a result, the lasers, which were programmed to light up the sky, instead reflected off the tent's canopy and into the eyes of festival-goers below. The blindness was seemingly temporary, though required special treatment to fix. One victim told TV station NTV: "I could see out of my left eye, but my right eye is all fog". Elena Grishina, head doctor at the Moscow Ophthalmological Hospital added: "It is just a deterioration in the sharpness of the eyesight, not a burn. The treatment is not very pleasant. It involves a lot of needles". Officials say that the event did not obtain the proper permits and those injured are now planning to take legal action against its organisers.
ILMC news 18 July 2008 www.ilmc.com
