UK-Based Dancer Dies After 100ft Fall

Posted on July 12, 2017

A UK-based dancer has fallen more than 100ft to his death at a Spanish music festival, following an aerial routine in a cage.

Brighton-based aerial dancer Pedro Aunion Monroy, who runs his own company,  suspended in an illuminated cube above the stage at the Mad Cool festival in Madrid when the incident occurred in front of thousands of onlookers.

It is not known how or why his equipment failed. Some media outlets have claimed that a harness strapped to his waist failed, causing him to plummet from the cage to the ground.

Although it is also not known what equipment he was using, on his website Monroy stated he worked in partnership with an international firm, who had all relevant international certifications regarding rigging.

The site states Monroy’s vision was: “to create productions at the cutting edge of aerial dance theatre which communicate directly and powerfully with the audience.

“We are also committed to enabling anyone from beginner to advanced practitioner to have the opportunity to challenge themselves and experience the magic of participating in aerial dance.”

His funeral took place this weekend with a Catholic cremation followed by a Buddhist ceremony on Saturday.

Rock band Green Day performed after the incident, and claimed they were not aware of the death until after the show, stating the festival organisers had only told them there was a ‘security issue’.

A statement on the festival’s website said: “Mad Cool Festival regrets the terrible accident that the aerial dancer suffered during the second day of the festival.

“For security reasons, the festival decided to continue with its programming. We send our most sincere condolences to all his family.”