Son of a Cirque du Soleil founder killed on set in San Francisco
Olivier Rochette of Quebec was a technician on the Luzia show
Officials say a technician with the Cirque du Soleil Luzia show who died after being hit in the head by an aerial lift Tuesday is the son of one of the founders of the show.
In a statement from Cirque du Soleil, officials confirmed that Olivier Rochette, 42, of Quebec, died Tuesday night in San Francisco.
According to the statement, his immediate family, including his father Gilles Ste-Croix, one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, has been informed of the accident.
"I am heartbroken. I wish to extend in my name and in the name of all Cirque du Soleil employees my sincerest sympathies and offer my full support to Gilles and his family. Olivier has always been a member of our tight family and a truly beloved colleague,'' said CEO Daniel Lamarre.
The San Francisco Police Department and investigators with the California's workplace safety regulator, Cal/OSHA, are investigating.
The Tuesday and Wednesday night shows were cancelled.
The incident comes days after Australian acrobat and Olympic gymnast Lisa Skinner was transported to a Brisbane hospital after fracturing a vertebra when she fell while performing as part of a different Cirque show.
She is expected to recover from her injuries.
With files from CBC News