A dramatic video shows a Hawaiian hoop artist losing his grip while performing tricks at Cirque du Soleil and plummeting to the ground without a safety net to break his fall.
According to the production, the horrific incident occurred during a performance of the Cirque du Soleil show “Coza” on Saturday night, August 24 at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland, Ore.
The video, obtained by QUEEN 6 News, shows performer Maria Konfiktova suspended in the air, spinning on her hoop as she appears to lose her grip, slipping and falling to the ground in full view of the audience. .
The Russian air force specialist is seen lying face down on stage as other performers stop their work and are stunned at the stunt gone wrong before the video ends.
Konfectova, 23, performs her stunts without a net, like other Cirque du Soleil cast members.
Benjamin Goldstein, 10, was with his sister and father when he captured the video of the aerialist and said he, like many others in the crowd, wasn't sure if it was “part of the show.” When she fell
“At first, I thought it was part of the show, like, it looked like it was done on purpose,” Goldstein told KOIN 6 News.
“But then we were, like, people acting weird. I was like, oh, this isn't part of the show. Something happened.”
The 10-year-old said he saw Confuctova fall face first on stage, and it looked like she hit her nose, and her nose was bleeding, but she lifted her head up. But she remained silent.
Benjamin told ABC News that the Cirque du Soleil team immediately rushed to the Confuctua's aid and that the actor “kept his composure” during the terrifying incident.
“He gave a thumbs up as he was being led off the stage, which was a big sign,” she told the outlet.
“We appreciate your concern and well wishes for our Hawaii Hope artist. We want to assure you that the artist is recovering and is being cared for by our medical and coaching team,” “Koza” said in a statement on Facebook on Monday.
A spokesperson for the traveling spectacle also told KOIN 6 News that Konfektova was “taken to the hospital for evaluation” after the fall and that she was “conscious, stable and being cared for by the medical professionals and team.”
Benjamin said the show was halted for about 20 minutes before a man from the organization addressed the audience and said the performers were ready to end the show.
“I have to give credit to these actors — to continue and finish the show after something like that, it's going to be tough,” he told ABC News. told “They did a phenomenal job.”
An Instagram account belonging to Konfektova responded to another concerned fan in a comment on one of her old posts, “Thank you. Luckily, I'm fine.”