A circus performer sustained an accidental arrow wound to the neck during a performance at the Orange County Fair in Middletown, New York, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred Friday evening when Ana Daza Tavera, 42, inadvertently struck fellow performer Edwin Cuervo Rangel, 38, with an arrow while he was holding a foam target during their crossbow sharpshooting act.
Cuervo Rangel, who is from Wisconsin, was airlifted to a local hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Benjamin Jackson, the ringmaster for Circus Murcia, stated that Cuervo Rangel was fortunate to have been struck on the side of his neck, an area primarily composed of soft tissue without major blood vessels. Jackson described the injury as minor, comparing the bleeding to that of an ear piercing.
Following the incident, the circus show for Friday night was canceled. However, Cuervo Rangel was discharged from the hospital on Saturday after the arrow was successfully removed and he received stitches. He is expected to require time to recover before returning to performing but has been described as being in good spirits and able to resume normal activities.
Circus Murcia resumed its scheduled performances on Saturday, with the crossbow act temporarily removed from the lineup. The circus typically performs three shows daily.