Over the past 6 months I’ve heard of a number of circus acrobat falls, all blamed on failures in rigging or errors made by riggers.
The most recent is the most tragic.
Before Roberto Valenzuela launched into his daredevil acrobatic act in the upper reaches of the Circo Hermanos Vazquez big top, ringmaster Jesus Vazquez issued his standard dramatic warning to the circus audience: “A screw that loosens or a cord that breaks could be fatal.”
But as the popular Mexican circus performer took his act before hundreds of adults and children in South El Monte on Monday night, the warning took on tragic meaning.
Valenzuela was performing a series of maneuvers while dangling from two 26-foot-long red cloths when equipment connecting cables to the material broke, sending the performer hurtling headfirst to the ground.
He was killed instantly.
Acrobat lacked safety gear to halt fatal fall – Los Angeles Times
Even more effort needs be put towards safe rigging.
Robert’s death is a tragedy that can have some purpose if it motivates the circus industry to prevent falls in the future.
Thanks to Michael Sanders for bringing this to our attention.
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