Dozens of people were injured by hailstones the size of apples that pelted concertgoers in Colorado on Wednesday night, with at least seven needing hospital treatment following the powerful storm.
Witnesses described the onslaught, at a concert by the former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson at the Red Rocks amphitheater in Morrison, west of Denver, as “straight out of a horror movie”.
Video of the hailstorm was posted to social media showing people racing to take shelter and others covering their heads with boxes taken from merchandise stands. “I have bruises and welts all over my back and legs,” concert attendee Jess Thompson wrote in a post.
Another concertgoer, identified by the Denver Gazette as Nicole, posted a similar account: “It started pelting people with hail … and I luckily found shelter under a sign. I am bleeding and have huge bumps on my head from the hail.”
In a statement posted to Twitter, the West Metro Fire fire department said: “Seven people [were] transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. A total of 80 to 90 people [were] treated on scene. Injuries include cuts and broken bones.”
Officials canceled the concert out of fear for public safety and British singer Tomlinson posted to Twitter his concern for those affected or injured.
“Devastated about the show tonight, hope everyone’s ok, I’ll be back! Even though we didn’t play the show I felt all of your passion! Sending you all love!” he wrote.
Organizers advised those who could to seek shelter in their vehicles as the storm began, the Gazette reported, with some returning to their cars to find the windshields shattered.
The newspaper said loudspeaker announcements advised people to come back to the amphitheater after receiving an all-clear, only for a second wave of hail to send them running for cover again less than an hour later. Officials canceled the concert at that point.
