Circus Performer Accidentally Shot in Neck With Arrow at County Fair
A circus performer was accidentally shot in the neck with an arrow during a crossbow sharpshooting act at a county fair in upstate New York, and was airlifted to a hospital following the incident.
The accident happened Friday night at the Orange County Fair in the town of Wallkill, according to New York State Police. Edwin Cuervo Rangel, 38, was holding up a foam target while his wife and performing partner, Ana Daza Tavera, 42, aimed a crossbow at it as part of their act. The arrow missed the target and struck Cuervo Rangel in the neck instead. The pair, both from Waukesha, Wisconsin, perform together as part of Circus Murcia.
Cuervo Rangel was airlifted to a hospital and is in stable condition. The circus's performance was canceled for the remainder of the night following the incident, and the case remains under investigation by police.
"No Blood, Nothing"
Circus Murcia ringmaster Benjamin Jackson described the moment during an interview Monday. "Well, last night, unfortunately, when she shot the crossbow, it caught him in his neck," Jackson said. He said Cuervo Rangel was fortunate that the arrow struck the side of his neck, an area made up mostly of soft tissue without major blood vessels. "No blood leaking out. There was a little around the hole where the arrow went in, kind of like getting your ear pierced," Jackson said. "The good news is, she caught him right at the very corner of the neck. There was no blood, nothing."
Circus Murcia owner Alexander Murcia said Cuervo Rangel is expected to make a full recovery. "Our thoughts remain with him during his recovery, and we sincerely appreciate the support," Murcia said.
A New Attraction at a Longtime Fair
Circus Murcia was making its debut appearance at the Orange County Fair this year, part of a new Big Top Circus attraction featuring acrobatics and aerial performances. The fair itself has run for more than 100 years, drawing families to the area for generations.
The incident remains under investigation, and further details about what led to the arrow missing its mark have not yet been released.
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