BERLIN (AP) - Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber missed an appearance on one of Germany’s top rated television shows as it was cut short by a stunt that went badly wrong.
Broadcaster ZDF said the live broadcast of “Wetten Dass” (Bet it…?) game show had to be canceled Saturday evening after contestant Samuel Koch was severely injured while trying to jump over a moving car driven by his father with the help of special shoes featuring a suspension system.
The 16-year-old Bieber later said on his Twitter account: “Please pray for Samuel Koch & his family as we wait and hope for his health and safety.”
The singer added on Twitter he felt sorry for not performing in Germany, but “some things are more important than putting on a show. We will be back I promise.”
“Wetten dass,” which has been on TV for almost 30 years, is one of the country’s most successful shows, and German media reported Saturday’s show had an audience of about 10 million.
The show also was to include a gig by singer Robbie Williams, and Phil Collins, Cher or actress Cameron Diaz were among the guests, according to the broadcaster’s website.
The 23-year-old Koch suffered multiple back injuries and fractures, underwent surgery Sunday, and his condition was no longer life threatening, the German news agency DPAD quoted Duesseldorf hospital Dr. Wolfgang Raab as saying.
But it remained unclear if or when Koch would fully recover since “he is in an extremely critical stage,” Raab told journalists.
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