Thousands see death of ‘human cannonball’

The 23-year-old, named locally as Matt Cranch, died after a safety net failed during the Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show at the Kent County Showground on Monday.

He was taken to Maidstone General Hospital by ambulance but died shortly afterwards.

Officers from Kent Police yesterday started investigating the incident alongside health and safety officials from Maidstone Borough Council, while the Health and Safety Executive has also been consulted.

Witnesses estimated that Mr Cranch was launched 30 to 40ft into the air by the cannon before falling head-first to his death as the safety net lay flat on the ground.

Rob Hutchinson, 42, watched with his wife and two young children as the human cannonball came out to perform his stunt to close the first half of the show.

Mr Hutchinson, from Tenterden, Kent, said: “The net was already up. He climbed out on top, climbed down into the tube, they gave this countdown then he came out of the tube – he was probably 30 or 40ft in the air at least.

“He turned over and then, the last picture I’ve got of him, you can see the net is flat on the floor, not up in the air, and he is coming down head-first towards the ground. I saw him hit the floor and bounce.”

About 2,000 people including several hundred children saw the incident, he added.