Members of US water polo team uninjured in balcony collapse

GWANGJU, South Korea (AP) — Members of the U.S. national water polo team were in a South Korean nightclub on Saturday when an internal balcony collapsed, killing at least one person.

A local news agency has reported that one person has died, with 13 injured. No U.S. swimmers were at the club at the time.

“This is an awful tragedy,” said Christopher Ramsey, CEO of USA Water Polo. “Players from our men’s and women’s teams were celebrating the women’s world championship victory when the collapse occurred at a public club. Our hearts go out to the victims of the crash and their families.”

Ramsay said all U.S. water polo athletes were safe and accounted for.

The American athletes are in Gwangju, South Korea, for the world swimming championships.

The incident occurred early Saturday in a nightclub next to the athletes’ village.