Streamer Adriana Chechik Breaks Back in Foam Pit at TwitchCon
Gen Prock said to me today that maybe any convention that has a ball pit is cursed. Technically it was a foam pit this time around, but I think they make a good point. TwitchCon (run by Amazon’s live streaming giant Twitch.tv) took place this last weekend, and its foam pit is responsible for multiple injuries.
Including streamer Adriana Chechik’s broken back.
The foam pit was surrounding a couple of platforms, where participants could battle each other in the style of Amercan Gladiators. Set up by Lenovo as part of a promotion, the foam pit was reportedly only two feet deep in many parts sitting on top of a mat. This is, at least in my experience, exceptionally shallow — especially when you consider it’s on top of a concrete floor. Normally a pit like this is significantly deeper.
Chechik apparently jumped into the pit after winning a bout, which is when she injured herself. The incident was caught on video, and is frankly rather painful to watch.
Adriana Chechik (@ChechikTv) looks seriously hurt after jumping in the foampit. Looks like #TwitchCon cheaped out on the padding and amount of foam. pic.twitter.com/BRPSs1EKVI
— Clippy Chimp (@ClippyChimp) October 9, 2022
Well, I broke my back in two places and am getting surgery to put a meter rod in for support today. Send your support. When it rains it pours and I am definitely feeling the rain right now.
— adriana chechik (@adrianachechik) October 9, 2022
Chechik was not the only one injured. Streamer LochVaness told NBC News:
“Once I had jumped off and my foot hit the bottom and my ankle rolled and then my kneecap was on the side,” she said. “I couldn’t move … I had almost passed out if it wasn’t for one of the staff guys calming me down.”
Medical responders were able to set her kneecap back in place, she said. After she went to the hospital Sunday morning, doctors confirmed she had no broken bones. However, she said, she will need to see a sports medicine specialist for “further help” with her knee. She said she also needs to get an MRI scan to assess whether she will need surgery.
It seems like the list of folks injured in the pit is actually pretty long. We’ll save you the imagery, but Kotaku has rounded up quite a few incidents. Twitch has redirected folks concerned to Lenovo who actually ran the booth, and Lenovo has said they’re looking into it.
At some point though, one has to ask why anyone at Lenovo thought this would be a safe idea to begin with. Additionally, does Twitch bear responsibility for letting Lenovo set up such a dangerous set up at all?
