Frightening moment California daredevils human cannonball stunt goes wrong in front of stunned crowd
An experienced stuntman is on the road to recovery after he was seriously injured when a gust of wind caused his world-renowned human cannonball act to go awry in front of a stunned crowd.Chachi Valencia, known as The Rocketman Valencia, was performing the stunt at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, Calif., when he was blown off course on March 2.Valencia missed the precise landing spot on his safety net, bounced back into the air and crashed down onto the concrete beneath him.“Taking it day by day with my faithful pup by his side,” Valencia wrote in an update posted on his GoFundMe Monday, along with a picture of his arm in a cast, relaxing beside his dog.“Grateful for time to heal and soak up all the love and snuggles.Here’s to brighter days ahead.”A video of the frightening stunt taken by a Festivalgoer shows Valencia dressed in a yellow jumpsuit being fired out of a massive cannon.However, as he flew through the air, a gust of wind pushed him off course and propelled him toward a safety narrow safety net suspended up in the air on poles.The stuntman’s body landed on the side of the net, which sent him back into the air.
Horrified festivalgoers watched as the daredevil’s body spun in the air for moments before the violent collision.Festival workers quickly rushed over to Valencia as he lay motionless on the ground.The sixth-generation circus performer was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with broken ribs, a wrist, and a lacerated liver, according to his GoFundMe.“Beyond the physical pain, the medical bills are already mounting, and the road to recovery will be long,” his son, David Valencia, wrote.“He’s facing significant time away from work and his passion, and the financial strain is adding to the stress on his health and well-being.”The free-flying performer remembered being pushed “all the way over to the edge of the net” before he blacked out.“From then on, I don’t remember anything until I...