Circus performer shot in neck with arrow by wife as daring act goes wrong at county fair

A TERRIFIED audience saw the moment a circus performer was struck in the neck with an arrow when a daring county fair performance went horribly wrong. The incident happened at approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 24 at the Orange County Fair in the Town of Wallkill. A circus performer was struck by an arrow during a live show at the Orange County Fair on July 24 Credit: OC Fair Ringmaster Benjamin Jackson recalled the moment Edwin Cuervo Rangel was struck and medics had to pull the arrow out of his neck Credit: News12 | Hudson Valley Ana B. Daza Tavera, 42, and Edwin A. Cuervo Rangel, 38, both of Waukesha, Wisconsin, were performing a crossbow sharpshooting act for spectators. Tavera fired an arrow at a foam target being held by Rangel — but missed, striking him instead, according to New York State Police. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! He was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in stable condition where the arrow had to be surgically removed from his neck. The pair are husband and wife, according to News 12 Westchester. Ringmaster Benjamin Jackson recalled the moment he saw the act he has seen numerous times go wrong. “When she shot the crossbow, it caught him in his neck. The good news is she caught him right in the very corner of the neck. There was no blood, nothing,” he said. Staff immediately evacuated the audience to make room for paramedics. Circus Murcia runs as its own independent attraction at the fair, separate from the main event. Most read in The Sun The show’s owner and operator, Alexander Murcia, issued a statement Saturday morning confirming what happened and updating fans on his injured performer’s condition. “Our performer is safe and in stable condition following surgery at the hospital and will make a full recovery,” Murcia said, per Hudson Valley Post. “Our thoughts remain with him during his recovery, and we sincerely appreciate the outstanding care provided by the first responders, medical team, and everyone who assisted.” Murcia described it as a heartbreaking one-off, stressing there’s no ongoing risk to the public or anyone attending the fair’s shows, the outlet reported. The show scheduled for Sunday will still go ahead, minus the crossbow routine while Rangel recovers. Comment now