Sant'Anastasia – The sound of motorcycles, the lights flashing along the steel cage, the applause of children in the audience. Then a sudden silence, broken by screams. Thus, in a matter of moments, ended the acrobatic act that transformed yesterday afternoon's show at the Imperial Royal Circus in Sant'Anastasia into a tragedy.
One of the three stuntmen performing the famous "globe of death" act—a metal sphere in which motorcyclists whizz past one another at high speed—lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into his colleagues. The man who lost his life was Christian Quezada Vasquez, a 26-year-old Chilean who had been performing on international circus circuits for years. Rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
The second stuntman, Yovani Fernando Gutierrez Gabello, a 43-year-old Mexican, was taken to the Ospedale del Mare hospital in critical condition. Doctors declared him out of danger in the last few hours, although he remains hospitalized for further evaluation. The third motorcyclist, a 26-year-old Colombian, was uninjured, or nearly so, and his condition had never been of particular concern.
The show was already nearing its grand finale, with a packed house and many children in the audience. The violent impact occurred in front of dozens of spectators: some filmed the scene on their phones, and the footage is now being examined by investigators.
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The Nola Prosecutor's Office has opened a case of manslaughter: they are investigating compliance with safety regulations, the protections adopted, and the maintenance of the facilities. The Carabinieri have collected testimonies from the public and all available video material to reconstruct the accident, which is still unclear.
Among the possible causes of the accident, which occurred so suddenly and unusually, it is hypothesized that one of the tires on the young Chilean's motorbike burst or the loss of engine power.
Meanwhile, as a sign of mourning and to allow for investigations, the Imperial Royal Circus has canceled all performances. The troupe, in the city from November 14th to 23rd, is in shock: a traveling community that today mourns the loss of a young artist and questions what happened in those terrible moments inside the steel sphere.
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