A night of family entertainment turned into tragedy in Germany when a 27-year-old trapeze artist fell to her death during a circus performance in front of nearly 100 stunned spectators.
The victim, identified as Marina B. of Spain, plunged 16 feet to the floor Saturday night while performing a solo act at the Paul Busch Circus in Bautzen. Authorities said she died instantly, leaving families and children in the audience traumatized.
The Mallorca native was an experienced performer with more than a decade of professional work. She had recently signed on for the Paul Busch Circus’s tour, making her shocking death even more devastating to colleagues and fans.
Ralf Huppertz, head of Germany’s circus association, suggested Marina may have suffered a sudden health issue. “It’s unusual for a well-trained artist like Marina to not survive a fall from that height. Perhaps she got dizzy on the trapeze,” he told Bild.
While Marina was not wearing a safety rope, officials emphasized she was not required to. “She decides for herself whether to use safety rope,” police spokesman Stefan Heiduck told reporters.
The accident is under investigation, and the circus has since canceled its upcoming shows.
