Kids Watch As Clown Is Crushed to Death

Tuesday, August 29, 2006


(08-29) 05:07 PDT DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) --


A hot-air balloon caught fire during a circus stunt, killing a clown acrobat as dozens of children watched, police said Tuesday.


The accident happened Monday night as the Royal Russian Circus was performing in Scariff, County Clare, a village in western Ireland. About 100 people were in the audience, most of them children. Police said the clown was a 26-year-old man from Belarus but didn't release his name.


Witnesses said the man, dressed in a clown outfit, was hanging from a cage suspended by ropes and a hot-air balloon inside the canvas tent. When the balloon exploded in flames, the cage fell on top of the man.


The man's wife, who was also part of the act, suffered a broken arm, police said.


"We were all sitting down and they were doing their act. They were up fairly high, but they were doing fine. Next thing, he was down on the ground," said audience member Hazel Harrington. She said many people in the audience initially thought the falling cage was part of the act.


About a half-dozen circuses, employing mostly Eastern European performers, tour Ireland each summer.




SSB- How tragic! Also why is the fact that it happened in Dublin not really surprising?

Part of me feels bad, but most of me wants to

jerseykrs said:

I'm not laughing at the event in any way. But I SWEAR TO GOD, I *knew* deep within my heart that this was how you felt about this story, and that it was only a matter of time before you burst and had to reveal it.

Imago said:

If nothing else, I am HONEST!!!

Don't get me wrong, in no way is it funny someone died, but a clown? Being watched by KIDS??!?!?!?


The IRONY!!!

jerseykrs said:

Just stop it now! You're fucking killing me. oh my stomach.

jerseykrs said:

The chuckles the Clown episode from Mary Tyler Moore still ranks up there as one of the funniest.

SOmetimes tragedy can be funny. By no means does this mean that I am glad about the event, but as you pointed out, it is ironic. I also know some that would CHEER this story as they are deathly afraid of clowns!

I hope the audience got their money back.

dang. that just wouldn't be a good day for anyone would it

Oh, I mean: