A Kenyan acrobat fell through a safety net during a show at a Moscow circus and was rushed to a hospital with severe injuries including a fractured vertebra.
An amateur video aired on Russian television showed 22-year-old Karo Christopher Kazungu diving from a height of 26 meters, hitting the net and going through it and landing on the arena floor during the Wednesday evening show.
Kazungu was halfway through his well-rehearsed routine of a downward dive and was supposed to bounce back up from the net.
Edgard Zapashny, director general of the Great Moscow State Circus, told Russian television that the German-made safety net had been rigorously tested before it was used. Circus employees are speculating on whether someone may have tampered with the net or whether it was faulty.
Zapashny said, however, that they did not see any signs of sabotage on first inspection.
The circus said on its website Thursday that Kazungu was conscious when he was taken to the hospital. News agencies quoted the director of the acrobatics show as saying Kazungu was diagnosed with a fracture of one vertebra and was in intensive care.
Kazungu was one of a dozen Russian and Kenyan performers who were taking part in a highly complex acrobatics show.
Zapashny told Russian television that the circus had never had any previous incidents of this kind.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
