Science Channel has scrapped its plan for a three-hour “Punkin Chunkin” special on Nov. 26 after an accident during the event earlier this month in Delaware left a woman in critical condition.
“Punkin Chunkin” is a competitive event organized by the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association in which teams compete to hurl pumpkins long distances with the use of elaborate homemade mechanical launchers. This year was to mark the event’s return to TV with a new competition after a two-year hiatus. Science Channel planned an elaborate special that would have been simulcast on its sibling Discovery Channel.
“In light of the unfortunate incident at the Punkin Chunkin event on Nov. 6, Science Channel will not air ‘Punkin Chunkin’ as originally planned,” Science Channel spokesman Paul Schur said. “We are sending our hopes and prayers for a full recovery to the injured woman, her family and loved ones.”
The woman’s name has not been released. A report Nov. 10 in Delaware’s Cape Gazette described the victim as a 39-year-old producer working on the event.
According to local reports, the woman was injured when the air cannon operated by the Punkin Reaper team malfunctioned, sending a large metal plate flying. The woman was hit in the head and in the face. The victim’s medical status was not immediately clear on Sunday. The competition was held Nov. 4-6 in Bridgeville, Del.
