A somber atmosphere engulfed the Paul Busch Circus in Bautzen, Germany, on September 27, 2025, when Spanish trapeze artist Marina Barcelo fell approximately 16 feet during a solo performance. The 27-year-old was performing before an audience of nearly 100 people, including families and children, when the fatal accident occurred.
Emergency medical teams responded promptly, but tragically Marina was declared dead at the scene. Her death shocked the community and spectators, with many screaming and some covering children’s eyes in horror.
Born in Mallorca, Marina was an experienced aerialist who had been performing for around a decade across Europe. The incident was described as unusual by Ralf Huppertz, CEO of the German Circus Association, citing her expertise and noting that falls from such a height rarely prove fatal for a trained artist.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, confirming Marina had chosen not to wear a safety harness, which is not legally mandated for trapeze artists in Germany.
In response, Circus Paul Busch canceled the remainder of their tour to grieve and recover. The city of Bautzen and circus friends have expressed condolences amid this tragic loss.
