Cirque du Soleil Accident: Acrobat Falls To Her Death At Las Vegas Show

A Cirque du Soleil acrobat died in an accident during a show at a Las Vegas casino Saturday night.

Cirque du Soleil accident kills performer during show

Thirty-one-year-old Sarah "Sassoon" Guyard, a member of the cast of the "KA" show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, was reportedly one of the artists suspended by a wire from the show’s vertical stage in the show-closing Final Battle scene.

"(The performer) was being hoisted up the side of the stage and then just plummeted down," witness Dan Mosqueda told the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.

In a statement, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte said he is heartbroken about the tragic accident.

"I wish to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family," he said. "We are all completely devastated with this news. Sassoon was an artist with the original cast of KÀ since 2006 and has been an integral part of our Cirque du Soleil tight family. We are reminded, with great humility and respect, how extraordinary our artists are each and every night. Our focus now is to support each other as a family."

MGM Grand has also released a statement regarding the tragedy. 

"Our company is deeply saddened by the loss of one of the talented KA artists Saturday night," the hotel said. "The thoughts and prayers of our employees are with the performer's family, the cast of KA, and the entire Cirque family during this difficult time."

An acrobatic performer for over 20 years, Guyard, a mother of two two children ages 8 and 5, had been with the original cast of "Ka since 2006. Her death is the first reported death from an accident onstage in Cirque du Soleil's 30-year history.