Clown at NYC parade collapses and dies

2:10 PM, Nov 24, 2012   |    comments
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NEW YORK - A clown suffered a fatal collapse in front of spectators at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan.

Sixty-seven-year-old Robert Blasetti went into cardiac arrest as he made balloon animals at Sixth Avenue and West 39th Street on Thursday. 

He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Spokesman Orlando Veras said Macy's was "saddened to report" that a parade marcher had suffered a medical emergency. 

He declined to say whether the man was a Macy's employee. Also, a civilian NYPD worker also became fatally ill during the parade. 

He suffered an apparent heart attack while hooking up a vehicle to be towed off the parade route at West 57th Street and Sixth Avenue. 

He also was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The Associated Press