News: Acrobat injured during SeaWorld show

Posted at 2:41 AM EDT (0641 GMT)

Jul. 22nd, 2007 -- On Friday afternoon, an acrobat participating in a SeaWorld San Diego show fell during a stunt and was hospitalized soon after. The accident occurred during a performance of Cirque De La Mer.

According to SeaWorld officials, the performer was on Chinese poles. The stunt, one had had done "hundreds of times", requires him to slide down the pole, controlling his speed with his legs, as he descends head first towards the ground. His accident involved him sliding head first into the ground, striking a padded deck. Audience members immediately dialed 911 after the accident, reportedly flooding the 911 call center.

Despite the fall, officials said that the 34-year-old man was taken to a local hospital, as a precaution. He was not a SeaWorld employee, but was a member of the contracted cast of the SeaWorld show.

For more information, visit NBC San Diego.