An acrobat fell to his death while performing at the Mad Cool music festival in Madrid on Friday moments before American rock band Green Day took the stage.
Pedro Aunion Monroy, 42, was entertaining festivalgoers in between acts Friday evening when he plummeted nearly 100 feet after an aerial stunt went awry.
Mr. Monroy had been performing in a transparent box suspended by a crane above a crowd of thousands when it abruptly plunged to the ground shortly before Green Day’s set.
The rock band performed around 30 minutes later, apparently oblivious to the acrobat’s death.
“We just got off stage at Mad Cool Festival to disturbing news. A very brave artist named Pedro lost his life tonight in a tragic accident,” Green Day tweeted afterward. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Slowdive, a British band slated to perform later Friday, canceled its appearance as news of the incident spread into the evening.
“After the tragic incident at Mad Cool in Madrid on Friday night, we chose not to play our scheduled set on the Koko stage,” the band said in a statement. “All our thoughts are with the performer and his friends and family, and apologies to those who were waiting to see us play.”
Event organizers called the incident a “terrible accident” and said security reasons precluded them from outright canceling the rest of Friday evening’s festivities.
“We send our most sincere condolences to all his family,” festival organizers said in a statement Friday. “Tomorrow Saturday 8, during the festival, we will render a heartfelt tribute to the artist.”
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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