Two Cirque du Soleil acrobats were injured while performing during a show at the Grand Chapiteau in Old Montreal on Friday.
According to Cirque du Soleil, it was two performers from the aerial act of the Ethiopian troupe on the show Echo who “fell on stage.” They would have collided in mid-air during their performance.
The injured performers are part of the Ethiopian show troupe Echo, seen in this photo. JF SAVARIA
Both were taken to a hospital by ambulance.
“We treated two Cirque du Soleil employees for minor injuries. We are not afraid for their lives,” said René Durand, spokesman for health emergencies.
One of the two was only transported as a precaution, the spokesman said.
“Everyone was in shock”
Michel Gauthier, who attended the show with his wife, said the accident happened as acrobats were being thrown off the ground by other performers
“You should swap them back and forth to cross each other. But the two held each other in the air. They fell to the ground in a very bad way,” testifies Mr Gauthier.
“Everyone was in shock. There is even one person who felt unwell [après avoir vu l’accident]adds the dentist by trade, who came to the show with his wife and a few friends.
“As a precautionary measure and in accordance with our emergency protocols, the performance was suspended to allow the show’s emergency response team to safely attend to the cast backstage, where they were immediately placed in charge,” publicist Martine Laforce said on behalf of Cirque du Soleil .
The remainder of the show was canceled after the two injured were transported.
“As always in the event of an accident, artists will continue to be monitored by ECHO’s medical team to determine when they can resume activities,” added Ms. Laforce.