Brit Shot From Cannon - Dies

Human cannonball dies in UK stunt accident

Apr 25 2011 03:37PM CST

LONDON — British police say a man has died after a safety net gave way during a human cannonball performance at a "daredevil" stunt show in southern England.
Lock and load left

A human cannonball enters the barrel moments before he died after a safety net failed during the stunt at the Kent County Showground in Detling, south eastern England, Monday April 25, 2011. The accident happened during a show put on by Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show which has been touring in the United Kingdom since 1991 and features motorbike and monster truck stunts. Police said that the 23-year-old man's next of kin have been informed but he has yet to be formally identified. (AP Photo/PA, Rob Hutchinson)

The other photo of the blue cannon is the way things were supposed to have gone. No clue whether the same 23-year-old was the man in the earlier, successful shot.

Police in Kent said Monday the show was canceled after the 23-year-old died.

They said they believe the death was caused by the safety net "failing to engage," but did not provide further details.

"Scott May's Daredevil Stuntshow" said on its Website that all shows have been canceled "due to unforeseen circumstances."

The show has toured the U.K. since 1991, and features Monster Truck destruction, car-crushing and crashes, fire stunts and the human cannonball. Over the years there have been several human cannonballs but this is the first to die, according to an unidentified spokesperson, who also said this would make recruiting for the open position a bit more difficult.

"Hear the twisting metal of the car crashes... Smell the burning rubber of the full throttle motorcycle stunts," the website promises. There is nothing about seeing the death of the human cannonball. That would have bumped attendance substantially.