Tiger Attacks Vegas Magician Roy Horn During 'Siegfried &

[JQ Public]

...Roy' Show!!

Saturday, October 04, 2003



LAS VEGAS — A tiger attacked superstar illusionist Roy Horn during a Friday night performance of "Siegfried & Roy" (search) at The Mirage hotel-casino, authorities said.

Horn, who turned 59 Friday, was taken to University Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition, said hospital spokeswoman Cheryl Persinger.

"All I know now is that he's still critical," she said.

Firefighters were called to the hotel-casino about 8:45 p.m. and found Horn had been "attacked at the throat" by a tiger during a performance, said Clark County (search) Fire spokesman Bob Leinbach.

MGM Mirage (search) spokesman Alan Feldman said Horn "sustained a serious injury to the left side of his neck." Feldman said Horn was in surgery late Friday.

Andy Cushman, a 23-year-old reporter from Haddon Township, N.J., was in the audience of the 7:30 p.m. performance.

Cushman said Horn, the dark-haired member of the duo, appeared alone on stage with a white tiger about 45 minutes into the show. Horn told the audience the tiger was 9 years old and was making his debut in the show, Cushman said.

Moments later, the tiger lunged at Horn, who tried beating the tiger off with a microphone, Cushman said.

"The tiger went for his neck, then drug him offstage," he said. "He looked like a rag doll."

A short time later, Siegfried Fisbacher appeared on stage visibly upset and said the performance was canceled, Cushman said.

The German-born pair perform eight shows a week, 44 weeks per year and have been performing in Las Vegas for more than 30 years.

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[janswizard]

I just read about that on the web. I have mixed feelings about it - while I hope the man survives, I can't help but wonder what is going to happen to the animal. I know that circus and circus acts have been around forever but I think it's cruel for wild animals to be used in circus acts. I've read stories about elephants doing the same thing - running rampart and attacking anything in their path.

These animals are first and foremost wild animals - it's their instinct.

[Aquawind]

I just read about that on the web. I have mixed feelings about it - while I hope the man survives, I can't help but wonder what is going to happen to the animal. I know that circus and circus acts have been around forever but I think it's cruel for wild animals to be used in circus acts. I've read stories about elephants doing the same thing - running rampart and attacking anything in their path.

These animals are first and foremost wild animals - it's their instinct.

Well Said!!

[Miss Mary]

I just read about that on the web. I have mixed feelings about it - while I hope the man survives, I can't help but wonder what is going to happen to the animal. I know that circus and circus acts have been around forever but I think it's cruel for wild animals to be used in circus acts. I've read stories about elephants doing the same thing - running rampart and attacking anything in their path.

These animals are first and foremost wild animals - it's their instinct.

Janswizard!!! Completely agree with you. My thoughts exactly. My family and I have boycotted the circus for years, ever since a show like 20/20 did an indepth expose on how circus animals are treated. If patrons only knew......I cried watching that show and told my kids - there's a good reason why I've procrastinated and not bought circus tix yet. One of the saddest things I heard in that program, is they go over to Africa, wrench the baby elephants away from their mother's sides, and the cries of all the elephants can be heard for miles. Then the baby elephants are brought over here, only to be chained for 20 hours a day, only able to move one foot either way. Unchained to perform then rechained back up. They also use a metal prod type stick with sharp points or spears on the end. It's constantly used to hit the baby elephants in the legs, so they perform. In the show a similar stick is used, w/o sharp points, so patrons think oh that isn't so bad......can you tell this is one subject I'm so fired up about?

I feel for the injured man but honestly I wasn't surprised when I read this article. Animals should not be used in shows like this, period. And I won't apologize to anyone who thinks differently. You have your opinion but boy do I have mine.

Mary