Two are dead and at least 10 more are injured after a loft collapsed in a nightclub in Gwangju, South Korea early Saturday morning.
Athlete’s from the U.S. men’s and women’s water polo teams were celebrating the women’s world championship victory at the club when the second floor fell.
Paige Hauschild, a San Marcos High School graduate and member of the U.S. Women’s Water Polo Team, is reported to have sustained minor injuries along with several other U.S Water Polo Athletes.
Hauschild reportedly suffered lacerations to her arm.
San Marcos High School released a statement on Twitter siting the incident.
One of our grads, Paige Hauschild, was with her team. According to the news, she is okay. Our hearts goes out to the victims and their families, including our Volleyball Coach Dwayne Hauschild. @sbunifiedhttps://t.co/vuyiXRy1Cw
— San Marcos Royals (@SanMarcosRoyals) July 27, 2019
U.S. Water Polo athletes Kaleigh Gilchrist, Johnny Hooper and Ben Hallock suffered a deep leg laceration, hand lacerations that required stitches and minor scrapes respectively.
There are no reports on the specific condition of Jamie Neushul, a U.S. Women’s Water Polo athlete and graduate from Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta.
But USA Water Polo released a statement on Twitter saying all USA Water Polo athletes are safe and accounted for.
USAWP Statement: An incident occurred in Gwangju, South Korea in which USA Water Polo Senior National Team athletes were present. All USA Water Polo athletes are safe and accounted for. Our thoughts are with all those involved.
— USA Water Polo (@USAWP) July 27, 2019
Local authorities said seven to eight people needed rescue after the collapse.
The two people killed were both South Koreans.
An official from the local fire station said that the accident site is under control and it is believed a structural problem caused the loft to collapse under the weight of people at the time.
A conclusion about the cause of the accident is expected to be made Sunday or Monday after further inspections.
The U.S. Water Polo Women’s National Team beat Spain 11-6 Friday to win the 2019 FINA world championship. According to the team, this is the third straight title for the women’s team, and its sixth overall championship
