Cirque du Soleil, the globally renowned circus and entertainment company, has faced penalties for workplace safety violations following a chilling incident that left one of its performing divers with severe injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has deemed the infractions “serious,” issuing fines in excess of $30,000 after their probe into an episode that very nearly claimed the life of a performer in the long-running Las Vegas spectacle, “O.”
This aquatic tour de force, a centerpiece at the Bellagio since 1998, turned to tragedy when Kyle Mitrione, a 35-year-old diver with a history as a competitive swimming champion, endured a life-threatening mishap during a performance. A back dive from a moving barge onto a deploying stage concluded disastrously when Mitrione collided head-first with the stage’s unyielding surface during the show’s 9:30 p.m. engagement, sending ripples of shock through the gathered crowd.
OSHA punctuated the gravity of the situation its investigation revealed. The performance failed to implement appropriate audio or visual signaling to alert acrobats of the ideal moments for safe water entry, a lapse significantly contributing to Mitrione’s perilous plunge. Beyond this, OSHA issued a secondary citation, criticizing a company-wide policy requiring artists to utilize safety belts in all high-altitude feats—regardless of context—as this practice actually poses a heightened risk of serious injury, such as internal trauma or even asphyxiation.
Consequently, Cirque du Soleil, a consortium with annual revenues reported to fall between $120 and $140 million, now faces two fines of $15,625 each—the maximum OSHA can levy for workplace infractions.
Mitrione’s vigorous athletic legacy, as a Purdue University swimming laureate and a seasoned participant in the Red Bull Cliff Diving cohort, starkly contrasts his current ordeal. Following five grueling hours of emergency surgery to mend his fractured spine, his journey to recovery remains arduous. Although improvements through rigorous rehabilitation are noted, a return to “O” is still out of his reach.
In response to a wave of support received on social media, Mitrione expressed his heartfelt thanks and reflected on his ongoing recovery as an “indescribable sensation of hope and light,” crediting the outpouring of support for rescuing him from despair.
As for Cirque du Soleil, a statement from spokeswoman Ann Paladie underscores their unwavering commitment to the well-being and security of their creative force, pledging to uphold a stringent health and safety protocol. This acknowledgment of imperative safety measures serves as a vital tenet for any organization that aspires to marry stunning theatre with the audacity of human performance, ensuring such feats of bravery are supported by an unwavering safety net of preparedness.
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