Stage Technician at Disney Park Badly Hurt in Fall

A 36-year-old stage technician at Disney’s California Adventure theme park remained in critical condition Wednesday after falling more than 40 feet while doing prep work for the Aladdin musical show.

The man was working on a catwalk in the Hyperion Theater about 6 a.m. Tuesday when he apparently toppled off, suffering severe head injuries, internal trauma and a fractured pelvis.

UCI Medical Center doctors controlled his internal bleeding and he showed slight improvement but remained on a ventilator. Swelling around the brain must subside before further neurological analysis, hospital spokeswoman Kim Pine said.

The employee, whose name was not released, has worked for Disney since 1996. The work he was doing -- above the entry and toward the balcony in the special-effects area -- is performed every morning before the show.