A Chinese trapeze artist died in front of horrified spectators after her husband failed to catch her on time while performing the stunt.
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The tragic scene occurred last Saturday, April 15, when 37-year-old Sun MouMou performed the risky trick with her husband, Zhang MouMou, in Suzhou, China. Sun fell more than 32 feet after her husband failed to catch her with his legs after the couple performed the dangerous pose in midair. In a video clip, the audience could be heard screaming after Sun loses her control, as reported by MEAWW.
After her death, scheduled performances were canceled, and Sun was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died after doctors said they couldn’t save her life. The couple’s colleague said Sun was still breathing weekly, and her husband said he couldn’t disclose further details concerning her tragic passing.
“We were always happy together. As I am in the middle of the process of dealing with all of this, I can’t disclose any specific details at this time.”
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The Anhui Yaxi Performing Arts Media was also fined more than $6,955 for hosting commercial performances without approval. The authorities are investigating how Sun performed the stunts without the needed safety measures. Zhang explained that she didn’t refuse to wear a safety belt before her death, as the couple performed without them on multiple occasions.
Social media users were disturbed by the video clip as trapeze can be seen as a daring form of performance art, but it still poses risks as an artist can sustain serious injuries or die on the job. One user wrote, “No amount of money is worth the risk of losing your life. I wish the family to join forces in this difficult time.” Another wrote, “No one should fault anyone for using a net. If you fall, you have one failed performance and life to try again another day.”
The trapeze has been known as an extreme form of entertainment as it captivates audiences with the daring feets of acrobats soaring. However, the intense physical demands of these trapezes, accidents, and fatalities are not unfortunately common. Here are some other deadly incidents where trapeze artists tragically lost their lives while performing trapeze stunts.
Lillian Leitzel is a German trapeze artist considered one of the greatest aerialists ever. She is known for her strength and daring stunts, which famously include the “plunge for life,” which she would release from the trapeze at the height of her swing and catch it on the way down. Sadly, in 1931, while performing this very trick in Copenhagen, Denmark, Leitzel lost her grip and fell over 50 feet to her death.
Karl Wallenda, a member of the famous trapeze group, The Flying Wallendas, is a family of trapeze artists known for their death-defying stunts. In 1978, while performing a high-wire walk between two buildings in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wallenda lost his balance and died. He was 73 years old at the time.
Swiss-Italian tightrope walker Maria Spelterini gained fame in the late 19th century for her daring stunts, which included crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope. She attempted to cross the Thames River in London in 1831 on a wire suspended between two barges. During the performance, one of the ropes snapped while Spelterini was halfway crossing it, causing her to fall into the river and drown.