Latest news with #RiversideCountyFair
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
California stuntman crashes to the ground as human cannonball act goes horribly wrong, video shows
Terrifying bystander footage shows the moment an experienced stuntman's act went awry in front of a shocked crowd of onlookers at a California fair earlier this month. Chachi Valencia, whose stage name is The Rocketman Valencia, was performing his death-defying human cannonball act at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indigo when a strong gust of wind blew him off course on March 2. "Taking it day by day with my faithful pup by his side," David Valencia wrote in an update to Chachi's GoFundMe page. "Grateful for time to heal and soak up all the love and snuggles. Here's to brighter days ahead." 10 Injured After Cars On Giant Pendulum Ride Break Apart Midair, Horrifying Video Shows Footage from the accident shows Valencia, a sixth-generation circus performer, sailing through the air after being launched from a 35-foot human cannon. As he falls to the landing spot, a gust of wind blows him toward the side of the net, causing him to bounce into the air and smash into the concrete ground below. "Right before the shot, I think the wind moved and it started a crosswind, and that's what happened—the wind caught me and threw me off to one side," Valencia told Fox 11. Read On The Fox News App Valencia can be seen laying motionless on the ground as employees rushed to call emergency responders. Oregon Amusement Park Files Lawsuit Against Ride Manufacturer After It Leaves Guests Hanging Upside Down "I don't remember anything until I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital," Valencia said. Riverside County Fairgrounds did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The daredevil sustained multiple injuries from the incident - including a broken wrist, cracked ribs and a lacerated liver - and was rushed to the hospital, where he was discharged just a few hours later. "I'm really sore. It's hard for me to move around—it's mostly because of the cracked ribs that I have," Valencia told Fox 11. "I also have a broken wrist that's not bothering me so bad." 20 Disneyland Park Goers Stuck At Top Of Roller Coaster When Ride Malfunctions Before each launch, Valencia must decide if the conditions are safe for him to perform, and he admits to weighing the option of backing out due to the fairground's windy conditions shortly before the accident. "You see all the people who are waiting for you to do your thing, and they're so excited, and you know I just couldn't cancel, you know?" he said. Valencia has 23 years of experience performing his human cannonball stunt, appearing at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony and various sporting events throughout the United States, according to his website. But before Valencia can return to the sky to continue his two-decade-long career, he must focus on rehabilitation and healing from his injuries, while reevaluating his risk-tolerance for his gravity-defying stunt. "I will definitely not take as many risks, as many chances, especially when it's windy," Valencia article source: California stuntman crashes to the ground as human cannonball act goes horribly wrong, video shows
Fox News
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
California stuntman crashes to the ground as human cannonball act goes horribly wrong, video shows
Terrifying bystander footage shows the moment an experienced stuntman's act went awry in front of a shocked crowd of onlookers at a California fair earlier this month. Chachi Valencia, whose stage name is The Rocketman Valencia, was performing his death-defying human cannonball act at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indigo when a strong gust of wind blew him off course on March 2. "Taking it day by day with my faithful pup by his side," David Valencia wrote in an update to Chachi's GoFundMe page. "Grateful for time to heal and soak up all the love and snuggles. Here's to brighter days ahead." Footage from the accident shows Valencia, a sixth-generation circus performer, sailing through the air after being launched from a 35-foot human cannon. As he falls to the landing spot, a gust of wind blows him toward the side of the net, causing him to bounce into the air and smash into the concrete ground below. "Right before the shot, I think the wind moved and it started a crosswind, and that's what happened—the wind caught me and threw me off to one side," Valencia told Fox 11. Valencia can be seen laying motionless on the ground as employees rushed to call emergency responders. "I don't remember anything until I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital," Valencia said. Riverside County Fairgrounds did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The daredevil sustained multiple injuries from the incident - including a broken wrist, cracked ribs and a lacerated liver - and was rushed to the hospital, where he was discharged just a few hours later. "I'm really sore. It's hard for me to move around—it's mostly because of the cracked ribs that I have," Valencia told Fox 11. "I also have a broken wrist that's not bothering me so bad." Before each launch, Valencia must decide if the conditions are safe for him to perform, and he admits to weighing the option of backing out due to the fairground's windy conditions shortly before the accident. "You see all the people who are waiting for you to do your thing, and they're so excited, and you know I just couldn't cancel, you know?" he said. Valencia has 23 years of experience performing his human cannonball stunt, appearing at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony and various sporting events throughout the United States, according to his website. But before Valencia can return to the sky to continue his two-decade-long career, he must focus on rehabilitation and healing from his injuries, while reevaluating his risk-tolerance for his gravity-defying stunt. "I will definitely not take as many risks, as many chances, especially when it's windy," Valencia said.
USA Today
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Video captures terrifying moment human cannonball falls from net in stunt gone wrong
Video captures terrifying moment human cannonball falls from net in stunt gone wrong Chachi "Rocketman" Valencia tells USA TODAY that a rogue gust of wind caused the accident that led to injuries including a lacerated liver, broken ribs, a broken wrist and an L1 vertebrae fracture A stuntman known as the Rocketman Valencia has been injured in a human cannonball stunt gone wrong that was captured on camera. Chachi Valencia, who told USA TODAY he has been involved in human cannonball acts for 30 years, was performing at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, California, on March 2 when he landed too close to the edge of the safety net, sending him flying onto the concrete below. Video captured by spectator Michael Betzler and shared with newswire service Storyful shows the adrenaline-pumping moment that Valencia landed in the net before bouncing and falling to the ground, causing audience members to gasp and race to his aid. See the video here Stuntman injured in 'human cannonball' accident at California fair Video captured Chachi Valencia, known as 'Rocketman Valencia," being propelled through the air before hitting the ground during a cannonball accident. Stuntman comes from long line of circus performers Valencia, a sixth-generation circus performer, explained that the accident was the result of a gust of wind. He told USA TODAY that each cannonball shot, of which he does 300 to 500 a year, requires a careful set of calculations that take into consideration everything from wind to cloud cover and beyond. In this case, he said, they had practiced the shot the day before in windy weather, but with gusts pushing directly back against Valencia, causing him to fall short of the middle of the net. They adjusted calculations to compensate but on the day of the accident, a rouge blast of wind hit Valencia sideways just as he was being shot into the air. "We got a gust of wind coming at me from left to right and then it threw me off to one side and I just happened to land on the edge and happened to hit the edge of the net, which probably saved my life," he said. Valencia suffered a lacerated liver, broken ribs, a broken wrist and an L1 vertebrae fracture. A lifelong circus performer, he began working with this specific stunt 30 years ago when he "married into a human cannonball family." For the first 15 or so of those years, he shot his now ex-wife out of the cannon before becoming the star of the show himself. "It's something that came to me very fast, very quickly, very easily, so it was almost like it was something I was meant to be doing," he said. And he doesn't plan to stop, even after the latest accident, which he called the most serious in his career. While Valencia plans to get back on the horse as soon as possible, he is stuck in something of a limbo until then. Without formal health insurance or a clear timeline of when he can get back to work, Valencia said the stress of medical and household bills looms closer than fear of repeating the stunt in the future. A GoFundMe for Valencia had raised over $11,500 toward a $55,000 goal as of Monday evening. "Of course, this is how I make a living, this is my career but I don't just do it for that ... I do it because of what I get from it, from the kids, from the people," he said. "Being in awe of what they just witnessed ... the connecting with the audience and the little kids. For kids it's kind of like you're a superhero to them, so it's something I enjoy doing." How common is the human cannonball stunt? The first human cannonball in history is believed to have been 17-year-old Rossa Matilda Richter, who launched at the Royal Aquarium in London in 1877 under the name Zazel. Later, Ildebrando Zacchini invited a cannon that used compressed air to launch humans in 1922, eventually earning Zacchini family members a spot in the Ringling Brothers Circus Hall of Fame. While the act was once more popular in the heyday of mainstream circus performing, it is dangerous and more rarely performed in the modern age. Valencia said it is relatively uncommon to run into another human cannonball now. And, because circus work is generally independent employment that entails moving from place to place as one gets contracts, there isn't necessarily a lot of collaboration happening in the space. Still, said Valencia, he plans to remain one of those performers after he recovers.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Video captures terrifying moment human cannonball falls from net in stunt gone wrong
A stuntman known as the Rocketman Valencia has been injured in a human cannonball stunt gone wrong that was captured on camera. Chachi Valencia, who told USA TODAY he has been involved in human cannonball acts for 30 years, was performing at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, California, on March 2 when he landed too close to the edge of the safety net, sending him flying onto the concrete below. Video captured by spectator Michael Betzler and shared with newswire service Storyful shows the adrenaline-pumping moment that Valencia landed in the net before bouncing and falling to the ground, causing audience members to gasp and race to his aid. Valencia, a sixth-generation circus performer, explained that the accident was the result of a gust of wind. He told USA TODAY that each cannonball shot, of which he does 300 to 500 a year, requires a careful set of calculations that take into consideration everything from wind to cloud cover and beyond. In this case, he said, they had practiced the shot the day before in windy weather, but with gusts pushing directly back against Valencia, causing him to fall short of the middle of the net. They adjusted calculations to compensate but on the day of the accident, a rouge blast of wind hit Valencia sideways just as he was being shot into the air. "We got a gust of wind coming at me from left to right and then it threw me off to one side and I just happened to land on the edge and happened to hit the edge of the net, which probably saved my life," he said. Valencia suffered a lacerated liver, broken ribs, a broken wrist and an L1 vertebrae fracture. A lifelong circus performer, he began working with this specific stunt 30 years ago when he "married into a human cannonball family." For the first 15 or so of those years, he shot his now ex-wife out of the cannon before becoming the star of the show himself. "It's something that came to me very fast, very quickly, very easily, so it was almost like it was something I was meant to be doing," he said. And he doesn't plan to stop, even after the latest accident, which he called the most serious in his career. While Valencia plans to get back on the horse as soon as possible, he is stuck in something of a limbo until then. Without formal health insurance or a clear timeline of when he can get back to work, Valencia said the stress of medical and household bills looms closer than fear of repeating the stunt in the future. A GoFundMe for Valencia had raised over $11,500 toward a $55,000 goal as of Monday evening. "Of course, this is how I make a living, this is my career but I don't just do it for that ... I do it because of what I get from it, from the kids, from the people," he said. "Being in awe of what they just witnessed ... the connecting with the audience and the little kids. For kids it's kind of like you're a superhero to them, so it's something I enjoy doing." The first human cannonball in history is believed to have been 17-year-old Rossa Matilda Richter, who launched at the Royal Aquarium in London in 1877 under the name Zazel. Later, Ildebrando Zacchini invited a cannon that used compressed air to launch humans in 1922, eventually earning Zacchini family members a spot in the Ringling Brothers Circus Hall of Fame. While the act was once more popular in the heyday of mainstream circus performing, it is dangerous and more rarely performed in the modern age. Valencia said it is relatively uncommon to run into another human cannonball now. And, because circus work is generally independent employment that entails moving from place to place as one gets contracts, there isn't necessarily a lot of collaboration happening in the space. Still, said Valencia, he plans to remain one of those performers after he recovers. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Human cannonball injured in California stunt gone wrong, video shows
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Human Cannonball' Seriously Injured After 'Gust of Wind' Makes Him Miss Safety Net During 'Death-Defying' Stunt
A "human cannonball" has been seriously injured after an accident at a fair in California. On Sunday, March 2, Chachi "The Rocketman" Valencia was appearing at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio when "a sudden and unexpected gust of wind tragically altered his performance," a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds amid the entertainer's recovery stated. "During his act, a strong gust of wind caught him mid-air, causing him to miss the safety net. He struck the side of the net, it catapulted him out and, unfortunately, landed on the asphalt," the page stated. Valencia "sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs, a broken wrist, and a lacerated liver" in the accident, the page said. Per an Instagram post shared by the festival, the accident occurred during Valencia's 2:30 p.m. local time performance. He was then taken to the hospital at around 3 p.m. Related: Circus Performer Hospitalized After Horrifying Fall from Tightrope onto Metal Floor: 'Her Leg Gave Way' The sixth-generation circus performer told Fox 11 Los Angeles that everything went black once he'd been thrown from the safety net. "I don't remember anything until I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital," he said, per the outlet. Valencia said that he's "really sore," but left the hospital because he didn't have medical insurance and was worried about the bills mounting up, Fox 11 L.A. reported. He also said that he considered not performing at the event over the weekend due to the windy conditions. "You see all the people who are waiting for you to do your thing, and they're so excited, and you know I just couldn't... I couldn't cancel, you know?" he told the outlet. A description on the GoFundMe page stated, "Chachi is a dedicated performer who brings joy and excitement to audiences. A breathtaking marvel of skill and daring, his death-defying stunt has electrified crowds at the London Olympics closing ceremony, NASCAR and Formula 1 events, and the secret weapon in Rio de Janeiro's Carnival competition, along with a multitude of circuses and festivals around the world." The page said that the performer is "facing significant time away from work and his passion, and the financial strain is adding to the stress on his health and well-being." Related: Cirque du Soleil Aerialist 'Conscious and Stable' After 'Shocking' Fall During Portland Show: 'I'm Okay' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Per his website, Valencia has 23 years of cannon experience. "Chachi 'The Rocketman' Valenica makes his living as a Human Cannonball being shot from a cannon; free flying through the air at speeds of 55mph, heights of over 65 ft, and distances of 165ft. He lands in a narrow net, set 20ft off of the ground and rocks the crowds every time when he hits his target at the center and takes off his helmet in a heartfelt victory salute," the site said. As of Friday, March 7, the GoFundMe page had raised just under $10,210. Valencia didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for an update on his recovery. Read the original article on People
