Tech CEO Dies in Freak Accident Before Crowd at Corporate Event

The CEO of a tech company was killed in a freak accident that also left the organization’s president in critical condition after the two men plummeted 15 feet in front of a crowd of 700 people.

According to The Times of India, Vistex CEO Sanjay Shah, 56, and president Raju Datla, 52, were about to present at an event in Hyderabad, India for the company’s silver jubilee celebration to mark 25 years in business. They were being transported out onto the stage in a suspended cage when the chain holding the cage broke on one side, causing it to fall to the ground with both men inside.

Video footage taken from the event shows the cage starting to wobble as it hovered near the rafters, as fireworks went off and the crowd was told to “put their hands together” to welcome the pair. As the cage fell, Shah could be seen flipping over and landing head-first on the ground.

“Shah and Raju being lowered from the cage onto the dais was a planned event to kickstart the celebrations,” said a spokesperson for the company.

“Suddenly, one of the two wires attached to the cage snapped. Both plunged more than 15 feet and landed on the concrete dais. This caused multiple injuries,” said a police official. “At the time of the accident, music was being played, and Shah and Raju were waving to their staff while being lowered.”

Shah was killed in the accident, while Datla was left in critical condition.

Vistex was founded by Shah in 1999. The Chicago-based advisory service company has more than 20 offices around the world and boasts a client list that includes GM, Yamaha, and Coca-Cola.