Human error or mechanical malfunction to blame for Adelaide cabaret star Hans’ 4m fall

Matt Gilbertson – aka Hans – is currently in hospital in Turkey, after sustaining serious injuries during a show. Here’s what went wrong.

Human error or a mechanical malfunction was the cause of Adelaide cabaret star Hans’ 4m fall on a cruise ship last week.

Matt Gilbertson – who performs across the globe as Hans, a camp accordion-playing German – sustained five fractures to his spine and shattered his foot and ankle when he fell into the orchestra pit during a show off the coast of Turkey.

His manager, David Wilson, said that part of the stage “never should have gone down”.

“Sections of the stage go up and down with hydraulic elevators; lifts, and they’re whisper quiet,” Mr Wilson said.

“While he was performing facing the crowd and working the show … he dances backwards into what should have been and what always is another four metres of solid level stage. “Someone had pushed a wrong button, or it could have been a malfunction, and that section had dropped down four metres. That’s like falling off the roof of a two-storey house.

“He was airborne and fell straight down on his feet vertically – his foot and his spine took all the shock.”

Matt Gilbertson performs on a European cruise as his cabaret alter ego Hans. Picture: Facebook

Hans the German, aka Matt Gilbertson, on board a cruise ship in January, 2022. Picture: Charles C. Meyer

Gilbertson, who shot to global fame in America’s Got Talent in 2018, is currently in hospital in the coastal town of Bodrum, Turkey. He is expected to be air lifted to a private London hospital for specialist surgery on Wednesday.

“It’s the shattered foot and shattered ankle that’s going to be the priority,” Mr Wilson said. “We’re hopeful based on what has been said; based on what’s indicated now – five fractures (to the spine) – that would be addressed by wearing a body brace for a period of time. It’s like an ironing board strapped to the back and tummy, keeping him upright for most of the day … it would heal itself.”

Matt Gilbertson is currently in hospital in the coastal town of Bodrum, Turkey, and is expected to be flown to London for surgery. Picture: Facebook

The cruise ship on which Hans fell into the orchestra pit during a show, sustaining five fractures to his spine and shattering his foot and ankle. Picture: Facebook

Mr Wilson reflected on his experience with past client, TV presenter Grant Denyer, who sustained serious back injuries following a rally racing incident in 2008.

“It could take three months, just based on my experience with Grant, then physio to get his strength back,” Mr Wilson said.

“It could have been much worse. If Matt was performing a song with his accordion – that’s an extra nine or 10 kilos, which would have made him fall forwards.”

Mr Wilson said Gilbertson was still experiencing pain (“there are conversations where I can tell he’s talking through gritted teeth”), but “with Matt, the show will always go on”.

“I expect Jo (Gilbertson’s mother) to be decorating a moon boot – I can see her now with a hot glue gun and a bag of sequins,” he said.

“He’ll be back with his moon boot and wheelchair choreography.”