Huge Light Fixture Falls On High School Wrestler Michael McComish In Madison South Dakota

Madison high school wrestler Michael McComish was bloodied and knocked to the mat Friday night, but not by another wrestler.


The senior was hit by a spotlight that crashed down on him from the ceiling area in the Madison Middle School during a special wrestling event. The spotlight was used for the school's annual wrestling meet billed "Madison Square Garden."


The spotlight fell onto the back of McComish, who was in a referee's position with his hands and knees on the center of the mat. just before the Chamberlain High School wrestler prepared to take the top position. A YouTube video of the incident shows the light falling onto McComish, and others around him scrambling to lift it off him. It also shows McComish receiving treatment to his head.

McComish, a senior, received stitches after the accident that happened about 50 seconds into his match.

McComish told The Daily Leader of Madison on Monday afternoon that he had 15 to 20 stitches on his forehead and the back of his head. He said the rope on the lighting fixture broke and he heard the chains rattle, then thought, "What the heck happened?"
His mother, Heather Bergheim, said her son has been a devoted wrestler since sixth grade and had to miss wrestling at the Kingsbury Tournament on Saturday. But she said he was there supporting the Bulldogs.


"We are very thankful it was not more serious," she told the newspaper. "We are hoping for the best and taking it just one day at a time."


McComish tweeted that he was not seriously injured not long after the match Friday night.
"Just letting everyone know I'm fine! Stitches in my head," McComish wrote on his Twitter account, @comish69. "Gash on forehead and back of me head and little cuts from the glass nothin serious."


Bud Postma, Madison School District athletic director, said McComish attended class on Monday.
"The unfortunate accident that occurred on Friday was indeed a scary moment for everyone involved," he said in a statement. "We are thankful to report that (McComish) is recovering and is in school."