A New York circus performer from an act named “Duo Darwin” accidentally took an arrow to the neck during a stunt at the Orange County Fair. (Insert your Darwin Awards jokes here.)
The New York State Police reported that a female in the Circus Murcia act’s arrow missed its target and hit a male circus performer in the neck in Wallkill at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, necessitating an airlift to the to Westchester Medical Center.
The two were performing a risky trick in which the woman shot an arrow from her crossbow at a foam target the man was holding. Videos posted online show the routine incorporating trick shots with the weapon fired backward or in complete darkness.
“Well, last night, unfortunately, when she shot the crossbow, it caught him in his neck,” Circus Murcia Ringmaster Benjamin Jackson told News 12. “The good news is, she caught him right at the very corner of the neck. There was no blood, nothing.”
Police said the man arrived at the hospital in stable condition.
“If anyone witnessed the incident, please contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Middletown,” New York State Police told the Hudson Valley Post.
“Our performer is safe and in stable condition following surgery at the hospital and will make a full recovery,” Alexander Murcia, the owner and operator of the circus, wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with him during his recovery, and we sincerely appreciate the outstanding care provided by the first responders, medical team, and everyone who assisted.”
Despite the accident, the show must go on
Murcia also requested that people respect the performer’s right to privacy and refrain from posting any video of the incident on social media.
“We would like to focus on the positive side of our shows, and everyone is welcome to share positive pictures and videos of the circus instead,” Murcia wrote.
With the support and encouragement of the injured performer and his family, he said all upcoming performances at the Orange County Fair will proceed as planned despite the accident.