Terrifying bystander footage exhibits the second an skilled stuntman’s act went awry in entrance of a shocked crowd of onlookers at a California honest earlier this month.
Chachi Valencia, whose stage identify is The Rocketman Valencia, was performing his death-defying human cannonball act on the Riverside County Truthful and Nationwide Date Pageant in Indigo when a robust gust of wind blew him off track on March 2.
“Taking it day by day with my faithful pup by his side,” David Valencia wrote in an replace to Chachi’s GoFundMe web 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
Chachi Valencia flies by the air seconds after being launched from his 35-foot human cannon on the Riverside County Truthful and Nationwide Date Pageant in Indigo, California on March 2, 2025. (Michael Betzler by way of Storyful)
Footage from the accident exhibits Valencia, a sixth-generation circus performer, crusing by the air after being launched from a 35-foot human cannon. As he falls to the touchdown spot, a gust of wind blows him towards the facet of the online, inflicting him to bounce into the air and smash into the concrete floor beneath.
“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 instructed Fox 11.
Valencia may be seen laying immobile on the bottom as staff rushed to name emergency responders.
Chachi Valencia’s stunt goes horribly improper as a gust of wind veers him towards the facet of the online, inflicting him to bounce into the air and land on the concrete on the Riverside County Truthful and Nationwide Date Pageant in Indigo, California on March 2, 2025. (Michael Betzler by way of Storyful)
“I don’t remember anything until I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital,” Valencia stated.
Riverside County Fairgrounds didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
The daredevil sustained a number of accidents from the incident – together with a damaged wrist, cracked ribs and a lacerated liver – and was rushed to the hospital, the place he was discharged only 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 instructed 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
Chachi Valencia flies by the air seconds after being launched from his 35-foot human cannon on the Riverside County Truthful and Nationwide Date Pageant in Indigo, California on March 2, 2025. (Michael Betzler by way of Storyful)
Earlier than every launch, Valencia should determine if the situations are secure for him to carry out, and he admits to weighing the choice of backing out because of the fairground’s windy situations shortly earlier than 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 stated.
Valencia has 23 years of expertise performing his human cannonball stunt, showing on the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony and numerous sporting occasions all through america, in accordance with his web site.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
However earlier than Valencia can return to the sky to proceed his two-decade-long profession, he should deal with rehabilitation and therapeutic from his accidents, whereas 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 stated.
