HSC investigates after skywalk window blown out

Health Sciences Centre workers are going over its heliport with a fine tooth comb after an object struck and broke a pane of glass in a nearby skywalk during helicopter operations Sunday.

Where the object came from, what it was, and how it was sent speeding fast enough to break the William Avenue skywalk window at about 5 p.m., is all being reviewed by HSC.

“HSC is still looking into the cause,” a Shared Health spokesperson said in a statement.

“We cannot confirm it was related to a helicopter being in operation in the area. There are hundreds of landings and takeoffs annually without incident,” the statement said.

“Without knowing for sure what happened, we are doing a thorough check of the rooftop and the integrity of the glass.”

The statement noted HSC has reviewed security footage from “several angles” but there was no evidence of what actually hit the skywalk, saying repairs are underway.

No one was injured as a result of the damage.

Information from STARS indicates the air ambulance flew four missions Sunday, arriving at HSC during the 2 a.m., noon, 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. hours, respectively.

Blake Robert with STARS said the air ambulance service was aware the skywalk was damaged as the helicopter was operating, but said the aircraft was unaffected.

“I can confirm our crews operated standard arrivals and departures from the HSC helipad (Sunday) with no physical damage or operational anomalies identified with respect to the aircraft itself,” Robert said in the statement.

Const. Claude Chancy of the Winnipeg Police Service said in an email officers responded to a “danger call” at the location just after 5 p.m. “for a hanging pane of glass from the skywalk over the roadway.”

Officers helped with traffic control as William Avenue was closed for a period of time as the problem was dealt with. The roadway reopened at about 7:45 p.m.

The heliport at HSC opened in 2016.

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca