The 26-year-old Russian trapeze artist who died after falling during his act in Co Clare last night has been named as Vital Khrapavitski.
Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority are tying to establish why a trapeze platform collapsed just minutes into last night's performance at the Royal Russian Circus at Scariff, Co Clare.
Mr Khrapavitski was performing a trapeze act involving a cage suspended from a balloon when part of the equipment apparently became detached, and he fell to the ring.
He is believed to have died instantly. His 24-year-old wife, who was performing with him, suffered a broken arm. It is understood the circus company involved is now flying Mr Khrapavitski's family over to Ireland.
An audience of about 200 people, most of them children, witnessed the tragedy.
Parents who were at the circus last night with their children said the experience was very traumatic for the children but fortunately most of them were not aware of the seriousness of the events they had witnessed until much later.
The parish priest of Scariff, Fr Pat Sexton, offered prayers at mass this morning for the trapeze artist and his family. Fr Sexton said the sympathy of the entire community went out to the man's family and to the members of the circus company.
Local people have been laying floral tributes at the entrance to the big top.
