Cirque du Soleil Acrobat Dies After 50-Foot Plunge During Performance

USA Today reports that 22 year Cirque du Soleil veteran Sarah Guyard-Guillot died on Saturday evening during a performance in the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show Kà. The 31-year-old fell from a wire suspended 50 feet above the ground during the show's final scene. She was a mother of two

Commented Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, "I am heartbroken. I wish to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family. We are all completely devastated with this news" He added, "We are reminded, with great humility and respect, how extraordinary our artists are each and every night. Our focus now is to support each other as a family." The accident marks the first stage death in Cirque du Soleil's 30-year history.

Audience member Dan Mosqueda explained to The Sun that Guyard-Guillot, "was being hoisted up the side of the stage and then just plummeted down." He continued, "Initially, a lot of people in the audience thought it was part of the choreographed fight. But you could hear screaming, then groaning, and we could hear a female artist crying from the stage."

Mosqueda's wife, Annie, tweeted: "Wire snapped. Performer on far stage left side of stage. He/she fell fast & awkwardly at LEAST 50 feet into pit."

Following the accident, an announcement was made informing audience members that they may receive a refund or a voucher to a future show.

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