Winky D rushed to hospital

DANCEHALL star Winky D was on Saturday rushed to hospital after pepper spray was fired during his performance at the OK Grand Challenge.

The chanter appeared on stage much to the pleasure of many leading to pushing and shoving that it became difficult for the security to contain the crowd resulting in the barricades falling.

A security guard resorted to firing the pepper spray as part of crowd control measures resulting in the singer and his crew being affected. He started coughing and could not continue.

A visibly excited and restive crowd began throwing missiles on stage and with the pepper spray having been fired, the chaos escalated and his performance had to be cut short.

Winky D's manager Elder Jonathan Banda said the chanter is recovering, having been advised by his doctor to take a rest.

"Everything was on course and the crowd was excited, throwing missiles, but not to harm the artiste. The security then fired pepper spray as way to contain the crowd but that did not help the situation after the barricades fell.

"Winky D together with our drummer and driver were affected by the pepper spray and began coughing that he could not continue. He was given water and encouraged to go back on stage but it was not possible due to the coughing and we had to rush him to hospital.

"We had another engagement in Bulawayo and it was not even possible for him to drive and we had to organise flights, going against the doctor's decision for him to rest. We had to fulfil the engagement and after that he had to rest. We even suspended rehearsals for Monday and Tuesday to allow him to recover," he said.

Banda said it was unfortunate that they had to leave the stage leaving their fans yearning for more.

"This was not a planned incident and even the organisers are calling checking on the artiste. It is unfortunate that we had to leave the stage, we had to take him to hospital," he said.