Peter the T-Rex narrowly escaped being showered with glass this afternoon after a pane of glass shattered at Auckland Museum. Photo / Supplied
Peter the T-Rex narrowly escaped being showered with glass this afternoon after a pane of it shattered at Auckland Museum.
David Reeves, director of collections and research at the museum, said no visitors were injured.
"We were able to act quickly and our front of desk staff moved everyone out of the area and closed it for the remainder of the day."
The glass pane was a part of the top floor events centre adjacent, but not directly above, where Peter resides.
Professional glaziers were on the scene cleaning still this afternoon.
Reeves said that Peter seemingly managed to escape the incident unscathed, but more inquiries will be made to ensure this is the case.
He also said that they were unsure why the glass shattered.
Peter was the first T-rex skeleton to be displayed in the southern hemisphere.
T-rex skeletons are worth tens of millions of dollars, based on previous sales. In 2020, one sold for US$38.1 million (NZ$45m) at Christie's in New York.
The fossil was discovered in Wyoming, United States, in 2018 and is one of just 20 T-rex skeletons on exhibit in the world.
Peter is considered one of the most complete fossils of the iconic dinosaur ever found, at 47 per cent fossilised bone.
St John said one person was taken to Waikato Hospital.