Horror after Chinese trapeze artist falls to her death during display

bbc ^ | Kerry Allen

[BenLurkin]

The woman, surnamed Sun, fell during a flying-trapeze performance in the city of Suzhou in central Anhui province.

Footage shared online shows the gymnast falling on to a hard stage after a routine went wrong with her acrobatic partner, who is also her husband.

She was taken to hospital where efforts by doctors to save her life failed. The popular news website The Paper reported that she leaves behind two children.

Officials say an investigation is under way into the incident.

According to The Paper, Ms Sun and her husband, surnamed Zhang, had worked together for many years and had often performed without safety belts "for the sake of looking good".

The footage has horrified people in China, and although social media users in the country have acknowledged that acrobatics carry a high level of risk, they have also voiced their concerns about the industry's lax safety measures.

The Paper shared archive footage of the couple, who are often seen performing stunts at high altitudes and simply relying on each other's strength for survival.

It says that the decision not to use safety belts spanned from working in a "highly competitive" industry, with them earning "relatively more money" by performing riskier acts.

[No name given]

May she rest in piece.

[DaxtonBrown]

“She just wouldn’t shut up”

[skr]

Risky career. Prayers for her loved ones.

[BenLurkin]

[Jamestown1630]

What an admirable comment...

[BenLurkin]

Apparently not a traditional trapeze but more of a circ du soleil type thing. Still, performing over a net would have been reasonable and hopefully any audience would understand.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wnmPFNUTJb0

[moovova]

Wei Tu Low.

[Nifster]

It’s why they use nets

[NWFree]

Won Flung Lo

[BenLurkin]

Or safety straps

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wnmPFNUTJb0

[jonrick46]

Satire is not your gift. You comment fell like a lead balloon.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

That's what I call a setting Sun.

[Gil4]

Sad. You can see her partner try to catch her with his legs, but couldn’t reach.

[BenLurkin]

I wonder if the crane operator knew what he was doing. It looks like he jerked it enough that the performers were shaken apart.

[Falconspeed]

Sad. An ounce of prevention... Sure, rock climbers enjoy free climbing without ropes but eventually a person’s muscle group cannot be trusted. The poor lady was hanging onto her husband’s neck which is not the best hand hold.

[Nifster]

Those too

[21twelve]

I’ve been to the Circ du Soleil a few times - unbelievable what those people can do. IIRC, they rarely perform over nets either.

[libh8er]

[ConservativeMind]

A very tragic story.