A Cirque du Soleil artist dies after fall on stage

Yann Arnaud, presented as an artist of experience, performing a number of straps air when he came on the scene.

QMI agency

Sunday, march 18, 2018 12:49

UPDATE
Sunday, 18 march 2018 15:57

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TAMPA, Florida | An artist taking part in a performance of the show Volta Cirque du Soleil in Tampa, in Florida, has died after a fall on the stage on Saturday night.

Yann Arnaud, a French origin in the late thirties, presented as an artist of great experience, had a number of straps air when he came on the scene. He was transported to the hospital and his death was recorded few hours later, explained the Group Cirque du Soleil, in a press release published on Sunday.

“The great family of the Cirque du Soleil is in shock and devastated by this tragedy. Yann was with us for over 15 years and was loved by all those who have had the chance to know, said Daniel Lamarre, president and chief executive officer of Groupe Cirque du Soleil.

Archival photograph Dario Ayala

Yann Arnaud during a training session in Montreal

“It is clear that one is in shock. […] He had many friends within the circus, which is a shock wave that exceeds the “Volta” and that affects the whole organization and I can tell you that everyone is very emotional,” added Mr. Lamarre, on the waves of LCN.

According to the director, this is the third time in 34 years that a Cirque du Soleil performer dies on stage. “It’s three times too many. It is certain that it is something that one is not accustomed to live. I feel like I live in hell currently and I hope I never have to relive a family drama like this,” he added.

Previously, Cirque du Soleil had mourned the death of an acrobat, also of French origin, Sarah Guillot-Guyard, who had a fall during a presentation of the show KÀ in Las Vegas in 2013. An acrobat Ukrainian, Oleksandr Zhuroz, had also lost life in 2009 during a training session in Montreal.

The company explained that it had put in place measures to provide support to the family of the artist and its employees. Cirque du Soleil is also working on a survey of local authorities which has been opened to try to shed light on the cause of this accident.

The last two performances scheduled Sunday at 13: 30 and 16 h in Tampa was cancelled.