The accident happened on Monday at Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show Detectives will lead the investigation into the death of a “human cannonball” stuntman at a daredevil show.
The man plunged to the ground after being fired from a cannon at the Kent County Showground at Detling.
The accident happened on Monday at Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show. Witnesses said the safety net failed.
The 23-year-old, believed to be from the Isle of Man, was taken to Maidstone Hospital with multiple injuries but died shortly afterwards.
Ch Insp Steve Griffiths, of Kent Police, said: “My officers will be looking into this tragic incident to try and establish what happened.
“At this time we will be taking the lead in conducting an investigation, alongside health and safety from Maidstone Borough Council.
“We need to understand why this poor man died so that we can take the appropriate steps.”
Mr Griffiths said the Health and Safety Executive was also being consulted.
The Daredevil Stunt Show will remain at the show ground while police carry out their inquiries.
The man’s parents have been informed but he has not been formally identified.
Police said they would not release his name at this stage. A post-mortem examination is due take place later this week.
Scott May’s show has been touring in the UK since 1991 in a season which runs from March to September.
As well as the human cannonball stunt, the show also includes pyrotechnics, motorcycle jumps and monster trucks.
The “human cannonball” act was part of a stunt show touring the UK Stunts UK Ltd, which is based in St Just, near Penzance, Cornwall, said it had cancelled all shows until further notice.
The Kent Event Centre, which manages the showground, said the show’s organisers had visited the site prior to the event.
A spokesman said they had the necessary health and safety documentation and public liability insurance.
Roger Moore, the event centre’s executive manager, said: “Our thoughts are with the event organisers and the family and friends of the man who died in this accident.
“This is our first fatality at the Kent County Showground, despite the fact that we have in excess of 60 events in any calendar year.
“We always ensure that individual event organisers have their own safety standards in place when we hire out the Showground to third parties.”
Proceeds from the weekend’s event will be donated to Kent Air Ambulance, he added.
Maidstone Borough Council issued a statement which said the local authority was liaising with the Health and Safety Executive and the police.
It said: “We are carrying out a health and safety investigation into this tragic incident.
“Our sympathy goes out to all the family and friends of the deceased and everyone who saw the incident. We will be looking to see if any breaches of health and safety occurred.”
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