November 23rd, 2025 - Deadly Circus Accident in Italy Leaves One Performer Dead, Another Injured

A tragic accident during a live circus performance in Italy has left one performer dead and another critically injured. The incident occurred on Friday in Sant'Anastasia, Italy, during a performance of the Globe of Death, a dangerous stunt in which multiple motorcyclists ride inside a metal sphere at high speeds. The accident involved Christián Quezada Vasquez, a 26-year-old professional performer from Chile, who was one of the riders performing in the stunt.

According to reports, Quezada lost control of his motorcycle while riding in the Globe of Death, causing him to fall from the top of the spherical cage. This led to a collision with two other riders, who crashed into him and also fell. Emergency responders were quick to rush to the scene, but Quezada’s injuries proved fatal. The other motorcyclists were also affected by the crash, with one suffering critical injuries while the other was unharmed.

The Imperial Royal Circus, the troupe with which Quezada performed, expressed their sorrow over the incident in a statement on social media, mourning the loss of a talented artist. The statement read, "We had a serious accident during the afternoon show. Christian, you will always be in our hearts. You were a great artist." Fatalities in the Globe of Death stunt are rare, though accidents in this high-risk performance are not uncommon.

Circus-related incidents have occurred in the past. In September, a performer in Blackpool, England, was severely injured after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by it. In 2015, a similar accident took place in Washington State when two riders collided inside the Globe, leaving them injured. In 2016, a Colombian performer tragically died after falling off his bike during the stunt.

Video footage of the incident showed three motorcyclists performing inside the darkened sphere, illuminated only by LED lights on their suits and motorcycles. The video captured the moment when one performer fell, causing a chain reaction of crashes. The workers quickly illuminated the scene, rushing to assist the fallen performers.

Carmine Esposito, the mayor of Sant’Anastasia, expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Quezada and to the circus community. He also acknowledged the presence of many children at the performance and expressed regret that they had witnessed such a tragic event. The Italian military police, the Carabinieri, have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, though they have not yet provided additional details.

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