West Point drummer sues Fox & Friends over stunt-gone-wrong

A West Point drummer who was hit with an ax during a Fox & Friends segment is now suing the show.

Jeff Prosperie claims he suffered ‘pain, disfigurement and loss of bodily function’ after being hit during a Flag Day segment filmed in New York in 2015.

Prosperie accuses co-host Pete Hegseth of ‘acting negligently’ when he threw the ax, which sailed over a target placed on the sidewalk before striking him in the arm.

At the time Prosperie was standing in a line of three drummers behind the target.

Prosperie, pictured above, was left with a few cuts but miraculously was not dismembered

Drummer Jeff Prosperie is suing Fox & Friends and co-host Pete Hegseth after he was hit with an ax during a Flag Day stunt in 2015. Hegseth threw an ax at a target (left) but missed, striking Prosperie (right) who was standing behind it

Prosperie claims he suffered 'pain, disability and disfigurement' from the ax blow and was left unable to work afterwards 

Prosperie claims he suffered ‘pain, disability and disfigurement’ from the ax blow and was left unable to work afterwards 

Jeff Prosperie accuses co-host Pete Hegseth (pictured) of 'acting negligently' when he threw the ax

Jeff Prosperie accuses co-host Pete Hegseth (pictured) of ‘acting negligently’ when he threw the ax

He says the target was ‘negligently placed’ in an area which put himself and other pedestrians ‘in the path of peril’.

Prosperie claims Fox & Friends executives had told him to stand behind the target despite knowing of the potential danger, and had failed to properly train Hegseth to throw the ax.

He says the network acted ‘with reckless disregard for the safety of others’ while planning the stunt and designing the set.

The lawsuit also accuses a Fox & Friends producer, who is not named, of negligence when placing the target.

Prosperie suffered ‘severe and serious personal injuries to his mind and body’, the suit says, causing ‘pain, disability, disfigurement and loss of body function.’ 

He was forced to take time out from work and other activities because of the injuries and may be forced to miss more time in the future, the suit claims

Prosperie is one of the lead drummers from The Hellcats, which is part of the U.S. Army’s West Point Band. 

Prosperie accuses Hegseth of acting negligently when he threw the ax without proper practice or knowing who was behind the target at the time 

Prosperie accuses Hegseth of acting negligently when he threw the ax without proper practice or knowing who was behind the target at the time 

The televised segment of Fox & Friends showed Hegseth missing the target, but failed to show Prosperie being hit (above) which was captured on a cellphone 

The televised segment of Fox & Friends showed Hegseth missing the target, but failed to show Prosperie being hit (above) which was captured on a cellphone 

After being hurt by the ax Prosperie posted a video to Facebook showing how the events unfolded.

In the video, Hegseth is seen missing the target with the ax before he grimaces and walks over to look behind the board as if looking to see if he hit someone.

The video then cuts to cellphone footage which shows Prosperie standing alongside two other drummers as they perform.

An ax can be seen clattering off the sidewalk and into his arm, causing him to clutch it around the elbow and walk away, obviously in pain.  

In a Facebook post alongside the footage, he wrote: ‘I was hit by an ax while performing a drum solo live on National TV…..words I never imagined saying! 

‘This happened last Sunday and I have been reluctant to post but starting to receive inquiries from concerned family and friends.

‘I am thankful to God that the double sided blade only hit broadside on the outer elbow with significant impact and a couple of cuts as it fell along my wrist. 

‘It could have been much worse or fatal. Focusing on full physical and emotional recovery. 

Speaking about Hegseth, he continued: ‘My leadership told me they were told there would be no ax throwing. I think the anchor person went rogue and decided to throw it.

Prosperie, a father of five, wrote on Facebook detailing the incident and said he is focusing on full physical and emotional recovery

Prosperie, a father of five, previously wrote on Facebook that his commanders had assured him there would be no ax throwing live on air

 

'Poor decision, obvious negligence, should not have happened, could have been avoided,' the marching band percussionist wrote of the incident on Facebook

‘Poor decision, obvious negligence, should not have happened, could have been avoided,’ the marching band percussionist wrote of the incident on Facebook

‘He had only thrown it once before in practice for an upcoming segment and they told him to throw it with more force. 

‘The vid you see is edited showing the televised portion of the throw and then edited to a portion that was taken on someone’s phone of us being videoed. 

‘The part that was actually televised showed the overthrown ax and then segued to us for the drum solo bump, only showing me walking behind the section holding my arm. 

‘The actual part where the ax hit me was not televised. Poor decision, obvious negligence, should not have happened, could have been avoided. 

‘When shooting or throwing, always know what is behind your target. Basic safety rule. I’m feeling blessed on Father’s day with my 5 children, alive, and with all limbs.’



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