The artists of the local circus Pikard are in shock: a death and two serious accidents spoil the mood in the arena for the almost months-long guest performance in St. Pölten.
“It’s a bit much at the moment,” Alexander Schneller is shocked. The director of the Lower Austrian circus Pikard recently had to deal with several blows of fate. The most violent: guest artist Mischa, who had fled from the Ukraine to Baden and had been traveling with Schneller’s crew for a few weeks, died in St. Pölten Hospital due to an infection at just 45 years old.
Brought to deep sleep
In mid-May he performed in Leopoldsdorf, but a few days later he felt bad. After the artist also passed out, he was taken to the hospital, where he was put into a deep sleep and never woke up again. “Mischa was only with us for a short time, but already an indispensable part of the circus. We can’t believe it all yet,” says Schneller. The Ukrainian leaves behind two children and his wife Jenia, who regularly appeared in the ring with him.
Emergency helicopter needed
In addition, the emergency helicopter had to be called up for the very last performance in Sollenau in the Wiener Neustadt district. Chantal Lutzny (19) was doomed by a wrong grip. She fell to the mat from a height of two meters, but broke four vertebrae in the process. “She will at least save herself an operation, but she will be out for a few months,” says the ringmaster. In the same performance, Stefan Dvorak (19) fell during his five-roll balance and suffered a concussion in the process.
A ghostly series of accidents
The past few days have been the provisional negative climax of a ghostly series of accidents at the Pikard circus. “At the end of March, one of my artists suffered from severe pneumonia, he had only 30 percent lung function,” reports Schneller. In addition, another colleague was out due to an injury during training with an arm injury.
A consolation in the difficult time: many fellow artists have offered to join. Because from June 15, the performances in St. Pölten will continue. In addition, the circus was inundated with condolences and get well wishes. “It’s very good in times like these,” says Schneller.
Source: Krone
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