Cirque du Soleil performer dies after falling during show

A Cirque du Soleil aerialist has died after losing his grip during an aerial straps routine and plunging onto the stage at a show in Florida on Saturday.

Yann Arnaud, 38, had performed with Cirque for 15 years and was “one of the company’s most experienced entertainers”, Sky News reports.

The French-born performer, who was married with two young children, was trying out a new act for the first time when he fell during the performance in Tampa by touring Cirque show Volta. Arnaud was rushed to a nearby hospital but died hours later.

Daniel Lamarre, president and CEO of the entertainment company, said in a statement: “The entire Cirque du Soleil family is in shock and devastated by this tragedy.

“Yann had been with us for over 15 years and was loved by all who had the chance to know him.”

Arnaud’s death is the third involving a Cirque performer in the company’s 34-year history.

French acrobat Sarah Guillot-Guyard, 31, died in 2013 during a Las Vegas show after falling about 15 metres as she was being pulled up toward the roof of the stage. In 2009, Ukrainian acrobat Olexandre Jourov, 24, died after falling during a rehearsal in Montreal.

In a statement, the company offered their “full and transparent collaboration to the authorities as they look into the circumstances of this accident”.

The final two performances of Volta scheduled to take place in Tampa on Sunday were cancelled.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating Arnaud’s death.

Prior to Saturday night’s show, Arnaud posted a photo on Instagram to announce that his strap duo act with aerial artist Pawel Walczewski would finally appear in the performance.