Ms Zampatti,78,was attending the opening night of La Traviata at Mrs Macquaries Point on Friday night when she fell on the bottom two steps of a staircase.
Carla Zampatti photographed earlier that evening at La Traviata Opening Night. James Gourley
Opera Australia chief executive Rory Jeffes said the accident occurred after the final curtain and one of the company’s trained lifeguards looked after Ms Zampatti while staff called an ambulance.
Opera Australia’s La Traviata on Sydney Harbour.Wolter Peeters
“My understanding is that they just cared for her,she appeared to be in and out of consciousness and therefore they just made sure she was comfortable until the ambulance arrived,” he said.
Ms Zampatti’s spokesman said she was grateful for the support of medically trained members of the audience who assisted on the night.
She remains at St Vincent’s Hospital for observation.
Ms Jeffes said Opera Australia has a comprehensive safety plan that includes handrails and sufficient lighting.
“Over the past 10 years,there have probably been no more than a handful of incidents of people slipping or falling on the stairs,” he said.
However,he clarified the handrails were only at the bottom two rows to ease the transition to ground level. One audience member said they were very long,wide stairs and climbing down at the end was"terrifying".
Mr Jeffes said staff would review the lighting after the accident. Because Ms Zampatti lost consciousness,the company also contacted Safework Australia,which later cleared the site for the Saturday evening performance.
He also said Opera Australia made contact with Ms Zampatti’s team on Saturday to make sure she was all right.
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