Yann Arnaud, a Cirque de Soleil performer, died Saturday night after falling during an aerial performance in Tampa, Florida.
Arnaud, a veteran performer from France, was performing an aerial straps number in Volta, one of the company’s shows, in front of a live audience when he plummeted to the stage, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group said in a statement.
He fell about 12 feet onto the stage below after losing his grip, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He received medical attention and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
“The entire Cirque du Soleil family is in shock and devastated by this tragedy,” president and CEO Daniel Lamarre said in a statement. “Yann had been with us for over 15 years and was loved by all who had the chance to know him.”
Cirque du Soleil is still “gathering information” about the tragic accident and has canceled its last two shows of Volta in Tampa.
“We are offering our full and transparent collaboration to the authorities as they look into the circumstances of this accident,” the company said in its statement.
Members of the audience described the fall as sudden and shocking. Ben Ritter, 76, told the Tampa Bay Times that as soon as Arnaud hit the stage, the performer was “out cold and not moving.”
People shared footage of his last performance. NOTE: Out of respect for Yann Arnaud, TPF News will not be sharing any footage of his final performance.