Las Vegas Sun

May 8, 2024

OSHA to issue safety citations in Cirque acrobat’s death

Sarah (Sasoun) Guillot-Guyard

David Fox

Sarah (Sasoun) Guillot-Guyard after an end-of-session performance with her students at Cirquefit in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 29, 2013, just hours before her death.

Authorities say they plan to issue safety citations following the death of an acrobat this summer in a Las Vegas Strip Cirque du Soleil performance.

Officials say they've wrapped up their investigation into the June 29 death of 31-year-old Sarah Guillot-Guyard, who fell 94 feet to the floor below when a wire rope she was suspended from was severed due to her rapid descent.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed six citations for Cirque du Soleil Nevada and three citations for the MGM Grand, where the performance took place. Both entities can appeal.

The show, "Ka," was cut short after the acrobat's fall, and reopened 17 days after her death.

Guillot-Guyard was the first Cirque du Soleil performer to die in an onstage accident in the company's 29-year history.