Santa faints under sweetie stampede
Helper suffers asthma attack
Stabroek News
December 7, 2003
A Santa hired by a large department store in Linden for an annual Christmas party had to be rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital on Friday after he was swamped by children demanding sweets.
Stabroek News understands Santa passed out from a combination of the children overwhelming him and the rising temperature in his suit under the hot afternoon sun.
Santa's helper, who happens to be his wife, reportedly suffers from asthma and she was also admitted to the hospital for observation.
According to a store employee, everything was proceeding smoothly until Santa arrived. One resident recalled that he began showering his goodies from a truck, inducing a mad rush, with some children falling into the drains.
When Santa and his wife came off the truck and went onto a makeshift stage at the front of the store, the children surged forward overwhelming him.
At this point complete chaos ensued with children crashing over each other and stampeding Santa who battled gamely against the hordes. Sadly, the heat and the confusion took its toll. Caught in the melee, he fainted and collapsed. Not long after, his wife, in trying to pacify the children, also began breathing hard and was taken away.
Even the two other helpers in Santa's party got sick and vomited after the crowd overwhelmed them.
Earlier in the day the department store had driven around with loudspeakers announcing Santa's imminent arrival while inviting parents to send their children to receive gifts.