Siegfried and Roy fans are heartbroken at the news that both of the legendary illusionists have died in the space of eight months.
Siegfried Fischbacher passed away at the age of 81, it was announced on Thursday.
The surviving member of famed entertainment duo lost his brave fight against pancreatic cancer earlier this week.
Long-time stage partner, Roy Horn, passed away in May after suffering from complications of Covid-19 at age 75.
The duo were synonymous for performing across the globe with white tigers and white lions in the 1990s.
Playing over 30,000 packed-out show all over the world, there seemed to be nothing they couldn’t do as they wowed crowds who all left wanting more.
The popular due wowed crowds all over the world – but one day things took an almost tragic turn (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
But one night things went very, very wrong for the double act.
On October 3 2003, what started out as a day of celebration for them ended as an evening of terror.
Roy suffered gruesome injuries when a white tiger named Mantecore attacked him mid-show.
In the middle of Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, chaos took hold.
Roy made the almost-fatal decision to go off script.
Things were never the same for Siegfried & Roy after the 2003 attack (Image: Getty Images)
He held his microphone up to the seven-year-old’s mouth and encouraged him to say ‘hello’ to the audience.
The tiger bit his sleeve and the magician swatted the beast away, and shouted ‘release’.
It did not have the effect he’d hoped for.
Mantecore shoved him and pinned him to the floor before biting his neck.
But Roy didn’t want any harm to come to the tiger (Image: WireImage)
Chillingly, the creature carried him off stage “like a rag doll” as Siegfried and trainers frantically rushed to his aid.
After spraying the tiger with CO canisters for nearly a minute, Roy was released – but he had suffered horrific, life-changing injuries.
His spine was severed, he was suffering from critical blood loss and have severe crush injuries all over his body.
Siegfried Fischbacher passed away at the age of 81, it was announced on Thursday. (Image: FilmMagic)
On the way to hospital, he is reported to have said: “Mantecore is a great cat. Make sure no harm comes to Mantecore.”
He never really recovered from his injuries, and was unable to walk, move or speak properly again.
The duo sat down in 2019 to make for “Siegfried & Roy: Behind the Magic,” a two-hour special on their storied career.
It would be the last TV interview they gave together.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
