The theatrical company announced on Twitter that Yann Arnaud fell while performing an aerial straps number Saturday night during the show VOLTA in Tampa.

The show was stopped, and Arnaud was taken to Tampa General Hospital.

The remaining two Volta shows scheduled in Tampa have been cancelled.

Arnaud had performed in Cirque shows for 15 years and was considered one of the company's most experienced entertainers, president and CEO Daniel Lamarre said in a phone interview. "Yann had been with us for over 15 years and was loved by all who had the chance to know him", the statement said. "Our focus will be on supporting Yann's family and our employees, especially the Volta team, as we go through these hard times together".

He wrote: 'After so much work and training and staging, our straps duo act is finally in the show tonight.

Julian Martinez was in the audience when the performer fell.

'We are offering our full and transparent collaboration to the authorities as they look into the circumstances of this accident'.

Arnuad's death is the second performer fatality in Cirque du Soleil's history, WTSP reported.

Arnaud is a father to two young daughters with wife Inna Gorelova.

This isn't the first accident in recent memory for Cirque du Soleil's Volta show. In October 2013, veteran acrobat Sarah Guyard-Guillot fell 28 meters (94ft) to her death at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Speaking to RT.com, a spokesperson for production confirmed "with enormous sadness" that Arnaud passed away at a local hospital.