Joana Sainz Garcia, a Spanish pop singer, has died on stage while performing live after being hit by an exploding pyrotechnic.
Garcia, who was performing alongside the Super Hollywood Orchestra in a venue close to Madrid, was rushed to hospital after pyrotechnic cartridge exploded into Ms Sainz’ stomach but she was later pronounced dead.
The performance, which saw in excess of 1000 people in the audience, was part of a festival in the town of Las Berlanas. In footage that later emerged on social media, a firework appears to explode close to stage before hitting Garcia, knocking her unconscious as she collapsed to the ground.
The incident occurred around 2am local time and, after the explosion, the curtain was lowered as paramedics rush to the stage to provide emergency medical attention to the 30-year-old singer.
A spokesman for Spanish emergency services gave an official statement on the incident soon after. “A call was received to report an incident in Las Berlanas, where a pyrotechnic device has exploded on the stage of the orchestra and a woman, belonging to the orchestra, has been injured and is unconscious,” the spokesman said, according to The Sun.
Another statement issued to MSN confirmed the incident: “A call was received to report an incident in the verbena of Las Berlanas (Ávila), where, a pyrotechnic device has exploded on the stage of the orchestra and a woman, belonging to the orchestra, has been injured and is unconscious.
“The Civil Guard and medics were alerted. She was attended to at the scene before being taken to the Ávila Healthcare Complex.”
In reaction to the tragic incident, promoters Prones 1SL told local media outlet El Diario that pyrotechnic cartridges are supposed to burn for 15 to 20 seconds before ending. According to Prones 1SL, over 2000 cartridges have been used to date with no previous incidents.
“The whole Prones family, partners, artists, friends, collaborators are very sad and dismayed by the loss of our companion and friend Joana Sainz, dancer and choreographer of the Super Hollywood Orchestra,” Prones 1SL said in statement posted on social media. “We sincerely appreciate all the love we are receiving in these hard moments.”
