A distressing event took place at the Demidov Circus in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, as a stuntman fell 23 feet from a high wire, landing headfirst, to the shock of the audience. The incident happened on July 15, 2024, near the Ukrainian conflict zone.
Colombian acrobat Sixto Octavio Chavarro, 44, was in the middle of a high-wire bicycle act when the incident took place. Chavarro, who had been performing in Russia for eight years, successfully completed one crossing but lost balance while trying to ride backward on the wire. Witnesses reported that he fell without a safety net to cushion his fall, striking the circus ring with a loud impact.
Video footage of the event depicts Chavarro lying motionless in a pool of blood as circus staff and other performers rushed to his assistance. Despite their immediate response, Chavarro succumbed to his injuries after being taken to a local hospital’s intensive care unit.
The spectacle was witnessed by hundreds of spectators, including several children. One observer stated, “There were many children at the performance, and they began to cry from what they saw.” The traumatic event provoked a wave of shock and sorrow among the audience members.
The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal investigation into Chavarro’s death to ascertain the exact circumstances and verify if any safety procedures were breached.
Well-known for its adventurous acts, the Demidov Circus’s safety measures have come under scrutiny following the incident. This has sparked renewed debates regarding the safety of circus performers and the ethical implications of performing such high-risk stunts. Opposition to circuses in Russia is growing, particularly those involving animals, due to a series of accidents and animal cruelty concerns.
In April, activists demanded a ban on animal use in Russian circuses after disturbing footage surfaced showing black bears forced to wrestle each other while dressed in costumes. These performances, still popular in certain regions, especially resort areas like Sochi on the Black Sea, are facing increasing criticism. Yuri Koretskikh, a leading animal rights activist, has spearheaded this movement, initiating a petition that has collected over 116,000 signatures so far.
With Chavarro’s death, the broader issue of safety in circuses has become more prominent. Critics argue for stricter safety measures and regulations to safeguard both performers and animals. As with many other circuses in Russia, the Demidov Circus presents a variety of high-risk acts.
Circus performances have been a popular form of entertainment in Russia since the 11th century. However, contemporary values increasingly conflict with these traditional entertainment forms, particularly when they pose risks to performers and animals.
Chavarro began his career as a teenager. At 16, he left his hometown of Oporapa, Colombia to pursue acrobatics and extreme sports. He performed in several circuses, including the Mongolian and the Monte Carlo Circuses. His last visit to Oporapa to see his family was in March of this year. His family is currently working on repatriating his body to Colombia.
Chavarro’s death has cast a pall over the Demidov Circus and led to a reassessment of the inherent risks involved in such performances.