Reporter’s Accidental Somersault While Live Reporting Sledge Race Leaves Internet In Splits

Live reporting is a dangerous job. From steering clear of crowds, chaos to unpredictable attacks, anything can pose a hindrance during live reporting. Numerous reporters meeting with accidents have been documented on the internet. Some of them are downright hilarious. In the long list of viral videos of reporting, one which stands out the most is when a Global News reporter was flipped off by a sledge, while he was covering a sledge race between two contenders. The video immediately went viral and is still referred to as one of the most funny videos of all time. The video has now resurfaced on the internet. Many media institutes and colleges cite the example of this video while explaining the don’ts of live reporting.

A Global News reporter named Rob Leith went to a snow mountain to cover the sleigh riding race. In sleigh riding, there is a cart, which is not driven by any machine or motor but is pushed from a height and moves while sliding downwards. People lie on the cart and control its pace with their bodies. This is the race that is taking place in the video and the reporter is covering the same. In the video, he has a timer in his hands.

As the video progresses, he acts as a commentator and starts narrating the updates of the race. In doing so, he stands on the race track when suddenly a contestant moves in his direction and before the reporter can move aside, he collides with him. This collision is so fast that the reporter jumps in the air and falls rapidly to the ground. Even after falling, he finishes his speech and regains his senses. Immediately the cameraman goes to pick him up. After falling, the reporter calls his act a bad idea.

The video first surfaced on the internet in 2012. The video of this accident was also posted by Canada’s Global News on its official YouTube channel. This video has received more than 24 million views on Twitter.