Carla Zampatti’s death sparks Opera Australia safety review amid concerns on outdoor stairs

The safety review was announced after claims workers were working furiously on the stairs the fashion icon slipped down during the opera interval.

Opera Australia will conduct a comprehensive review into safety at the waterfront amphitheatre where iconic designer Carla Zampatti fell and suffered a head injury from which she later died.

As it was revealed yesterday that a state funeral would be held for Zampatti, witnesses claimed workers had been “working ­furiously” with a power drill on the stairs the fashion icon slipped down during the interval of the gala performance of La Traviata at Mrs Macquarie’s Point.

Carla Zampatti just hours before the fall. Picture: Don Arnold

The stairs which Zampatti is believed to have fallen from. Picture: David Swift

Opera Australia denied those accounts yesterday as it explained the stairs were “compliant but “some ­additional measures” had been taken to further ­enhance access to and from seating across the site.

The stairs in the seating area were shallow and there were three deeper steps added to allow patrons to reach the ground.

“In line with OA’s policies and procedures, OA is conducting a comprehensive review of the site and incident. OA is committed to all aspects of the safety of our site and patrons,” the spokeswoman said.

She said “there was no work done to these stairs during the show” in the vicinity of Zampatti’s fall, but said “prior to the interval there was some minor work done in an area not related to the ­incident”.

Carla Zampatti (in black, second left) during interval at the opera.

Paramedics on the scene at Mrs Macquarie’s Point.

The iconic fashion designer died at around 10am Saturday morning after spending the week prior in a coma.

She had never regained consciousness.

An eyewitness said Zampatti appeared to be “out cold on the ground for quite a long time” following the fall, which occurred as people left at the end of the show.

It came as Zampatti’s former neighbour, veteran broadcaster Kerri-Anne Kennerley, paid tribute to the “woman’s woman”, adding the fashion icon had been frail “for a long time”.

“Carla has been quite frail for a long time, she was so tiny. I’m assuming when she fell, she hit her head very badly and eventually that’s led to her demise which is a terrible thing. I think she cracked her head and neck, at the age and stage you just don’t recover,” Kennerley told the Telegraph.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley yesterday paid tribute to her neighbour Carla Zampatti. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty

“When you hit your head, it isn’t good.

“She lived three doors up for many years and then she moved around the corner.

“She was such a good woman’s woman. Very kind, generous and very bright. She served on many boards and she was quite open before the MeToo movement came along, she was one of the women who was always prepared to help anyone else.”

Botanic Gardens Greater Sydney, the authority responsible for authorised events within the gardens, said they would “work closely” with Opera Australia and other authorities.

“The Trust will continue to work closely with Opera Australia and relevant authorities including SafeWork NSW in any further investigations,” Denise Ora, Chief Executive of the Botanic Gardens Greater Sydney, told the Telegraph.

SafeWork NSW didn’t respond to new inquiries from The Daily Telegraph on Sunday, but had previously ­accessed the site last week and cleared it for follow-up performances.

Zampatti was photographed on the red carpet at the event in her trademark sunglasses and wearing a stunning pearl, aquamarine and diamond necklace.

STATE FUNERAL FOR FASHION’S FIRST LADY

In a statement issued this morning, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Zampatti’s family had accepted the NSW Government’s offer of a state funeral.

“Carla was talented, generous and inspiring. A true trailblazer in every respect,” the statement said.

“On behalf of the people of NSW, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Carla.”

Zampatti was attending the gala opening night of Opera Australia’s La Traviata a week ago when she stumbled on the bottom two stairs of a pop-up outdoor amphitheatre and fell.

Twelve precious minutes would pass before an ambulance arrived and paramedics attended the scene.

A groaning Zampatti was briefly roused – and vomited – before being lifted onto a stretcher and taken to St Vincent’s Hospital.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told Zampatti never regained consciousness after being admitted to hospital and had been in a coma for seven days before she died.

A week earlier, Opera Australia’s Chief Executive Rory Jeffes said Opera Australia had a comprehensive safety plan including handrails and sufficient lighting. He added Safework Australia had been contacted after Zampatti’s fall and the site cleared for the next performance.

Zampatti with her daughter Bianca Spender.

A titan of the Australian fashion industry.

Zampatti in 1995.

A fashion industry pioneer, Zampatti became an institution during a career spanning 55 years.

Her signature tailored designs and sleek silhouettes have long been a fashion staple for prime ministers, premiers, business leaders, television presenters and royalty during a celebrated career begun in 1965.

Yesterday the designer’s three children, Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd CEO Alexander Schuman, fashion designer Bianca Spender and businesswoman Allegra Spender confirmed their mother’s death via a statement.

“The family ask for privacy at this time … (Carla’s) family is very grateful for the support and for the excellent care from the team at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.”

Bianca Spender spoke of her heartbreak on Instagram: “Today I lost my mother, my inspiration, my mentor and my friend. I am lost for words and totally heartbroken.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was one of dozens of luminaries who yesterday paid tribute to Zampatti.

“Carla was an icon to the fashion industry, a pioneer as an entrepreneur and a champion of multicultural Australia,” Morrison said.

Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti and her family migrated to Australia in 1950 before settling in Freemantle, Western Australia.

The budding designer later relocated to Sydney where in 1965 she launched her eponymous label.