A circus performer in upstate New York was airlifted to a hospital after a fellow performer’s arrow missed its mark during a live stunt and hit him in the neck, police said.
The incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Orange County Fair in Wallkill, where New York State Police said Ana Daza Tavera, 42, was performing alongside Edwin Cuervo Rangel, 38.
According to police, the act involved Daza Tavera firing an arrow toward a foam target that Cuervo Rangel was holding as part of the high-risk circus routine.
Instead, the arrow struck Cuervo Rangel in the neck, authorities said.
“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.”
Cuervo Rangel was flown to Westchester Medical Center for treatment and remained in stable condition, police said.
Circus Murcia owner Alexander Murcia also acknowledged the accident in a statement, saying Cuervo Rangel is expected to make “a full recovery,” the Hudson Valley Post reported.
“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,” Murcia said.
Police said an investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
