This is the horrifying moment a packed Malibu beach house balcony gave way and collapsed on to jagged rocks below, leaving two partygoers critically injured.
The house had been rented on Vrbo for the weekend and had an official capacity of six, but more than 30 people were at the birthday party, the owner said.
Video shows the moment about 15 people plunged 10 to 15ft to the ground when the balcony collapsed around 5:30pm on Saturday, injuring ten.
It was not immediately clear who will be liable for the incident, but fire crews have said the balcony was overcrowded.
The owner has claimed that she rented the property on the understanding that no more than six would be there at any one time. According to CBSLA, the owner begged the renter to send guests away when it became clear dozens had turned up.
This is the horrifying moment a packed Malibu beach house balcony gave way and collapsed on to the rocks below, leaving two partygoers critically injured
Guests were enjoying the Malibu sunshine when the balcony started to crack and then gave way
About 15 people who were standing on the balcony when it collapsed were plunged between 10 and 15ft onto rocks below
The house was declared uninhabitable by the LA County Fire Department after the balcony collapse on Saturday
A witness told KCLA: ‘We heard a crack, and I literally saw all my best friends and my girlfriend fall 15-feet to the rocks. The deck just literally gave out. It could’ve been a lot worse, but it’s pretty awful’.
He added: ‘We were just chilling, it was a birthday party, we were on the back deck. There were probably ten people on the back deck.’
Four guests were taken to hospital with moderate to serious injuries and five were treated at the scene on 20000 block of W. Pacific Coast Highway by fire department officials after the incident.
At least one person had their hand bandaged. Another appeared to be limping as they left the scene. Everyone who fell was evacuated from the beach.
Four guests were taken to hospital and five were treated at the scene by fire department officials after they were plunged from the balcony onto jagged rocks below
About 15 people were on the balcony and were plunged 10 to 15ft to the ground when it collapsed around 5:30pm
The beach house owner, who declined to be identified, said she heard about the party after she checked her surveillance cameras when a neighbor reported seeing dozens of people entering the property.
She then repeatedly called the tenants over a period of three hours, asking them to reduce the number of people or leave the property, but they refused.
The balcony collapsed less than 30 minutes after she ended a phone call, who she had recorded.
She said she had been told only five people would be staying there and warned tenants they were not allowed to throw parties.
The owner told NBC4 News she called the Lost Hill’s Sheriff’s station but was told it was a civil matter.
LA County Fire Department spokesperson Ron Haralson told KCAL the balcony had collapsed during a ‘large social gathering’ on Saturday.
He said the deck was overcrowded when it gave way.
‘I’m not sure what that deck would be rated at but for a residential home that would appear to be a lot of persons on that, and potentially a lot of weight’, Haralson added.
‘Down below are jagged rocks, large rocks, so a very dangerous situation’.
The house has been declared uninhabitable by the fire department. Shards of glass, splintered wood, and destroyed deck furniture littered the scene.
The homeowner said she felt the place had been vandalised, but added that her heart goes out to those hurt in the incident.
The house, which had been rented for the weekend had an official capacity of six, but around 30 people were at the party on Saturday
Four guests were taken to hospital and five were treated at the scene by fire department officials after the incident