Cirque du Soleil Performer Yann Arnaud was announced dead Sunday after taking a fatal 20-foot fall during a show in Tampa, Florida, ABC News reports.
Tampa police say the performer of 15 years slipped from a ring he was holding and fell 20 feet to the ground.
Medics rushed to the stage and lifted Arnaud from the scene, video shows. He was then transported to a nearby hospital but died of fatal injuries.
In a statement published on Twitter, the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group writes:
“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. Over the coming days and weeks, our focus will be on supporting Yann’s family and our employees, especially the ‘Volta’ team, as we go through these difficult times together.”
— Cirque du Soleil (@Cirque) March 18, 2018