Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Third Disney World Death

Disney World has lost its third employee in seven weeks - this time, an individual working in the Indiana Jones show.

The stunt performer was killed after an accident during rehearsals for a show at the theme park in Orlando, Florida.

Anislav Varbanov suffered head injuries while practising a tumbling roll for the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" in the Hollywood Studios section of the Florida resort.

"We lost a valued cast member and our thoughts are with his family, friends and co-workers as they mourn his passing," Disney said in a statement released to local news channel Fox 35.

The live show, which recreates scenes from the film Raiders Of The Lost Ark, will not go ahead on Tuesday as a mark of respect for Varbanov.

The stunt performers are involved in fight and fire scenes, chases and explosions, as well as acrobatics on a motorbike and plane.

Varbanov's death came a week after a 47-year-old performer died after a fall on stage during another show, Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial.

Mark Priest was sword-fighting during the show, based on the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, when he slipped and hit his head on a wall. He joked about his condition when he was taken to hospital but deteriorated rapidly and died.

In July, 21-year-old monorail driver Austin Wuennenberg was killed when another train crashed into the one he was operating near the Magic Kingdom.

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