The Cirque Du Soleil accident at the MGM Grand on Saturday night (June 29, 2013) left one Paris-born performer, Sarah Guyard-Guillot, dead. The 31-year-old acrobat and mother of two was pronounced dead late on Saturday after falling 50ft from the stage. According to BBC News, her death is understood to be the first fatality in over 30 years of the legendary show's history.

Cirque du SoleilA Cirque du Soleil Acrobat Performing At The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham

Witness Dan Mosqueda told the Las Vegas Sun that Ms Guyard-Guillot was being hoisted up the side of the stage when she appeared to slip free of her safety wire and plummeted to the ground below. "Initially, a lot of people in the audience thought it was part of the [show]," he said. "But you could hear screaming, then groaning, and we could hear a female artist crying from the stage."

The show was suspended and audience members were offered refunds or vouchers for future shows. All performances of Ka have been cancelled until further notice. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte issued a statement praising Guyard-Guillot for her 20 years of acrobatic work. "I am heartbroken. I wish to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family. We are reminded with great humility and respect how extraordinary our artists are each and every night," he said.

Cirque du SoleilCirque du Soleil Sells Millions of Tickets Worldwide

The Ka show of Cirque du Soleil combines dance, acrobatics and performance art, together with pyrotechnics and aerial displays. The show - both in touring and residency form - is watched by millions of people every year.