Talus Dome has maintenance hatch, Edmonton Arts Council reveals, after man was rescued

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services technical rescue specialists work to save a person that became stuck inside the Talus Balls art installation on Sunday, April 9, 2023 (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune).

The Talus Dome has a maintenance hatch, CTV News Edmonton has learned.

Firefighters used the jaws of life to rescue a 26-year-old man who became stuck inside the silver balls on April 9.

The rescue took about an hour and a half.

"It's definitely a first for me," Edmonton Fire Rescue Services district chief Troy Brady told CTV News that night. "It's definitely different than what we would typically use [the jaws of life] for."

A week later, the Edmonton Arts Council confirmed the Talus Dome has a maintenance hatch.

"It is used for conservation purposes, however, for the safety of the artwork, that access is limited to our conservation department," said Jenna Turner, the council's communication director.

"Emergency services was not aware of the hatch as there has never been an emergency related to the artwork since it was installed in 2011."

Edmonton Arts Council and EFRS have been in touch since the rescue, she added.

In a statement to CTV News, EFRS said it "cannot confirm if the maintenance hatch at the Talus Dome could have been used in the recent extrication event, as crews have only been told about it following the event and have not seen it."

Wakeem Courtoreille was charged with mischief over $5,000.