Famed Human Cannonball Injured At RivCo Fair & Date Festival

INDIO, CA — Well-known human cannonball artist The Rocketman was hospitalized on Sunday after he fell from his target landing at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, according to multiple reports.

After Chachi "The Rocketman" Valencia was shot from a cannon at the fair, a powerful gust of wind caught him mid-air, causing him to hit the side of his safety net, which threw him onto the asphalt, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by David Valencia.

The net is typically 20 feet off the ground, while Valencia is often catapulted 65 feet up in the air at distances of around 165 feet, according to his website.

The fall resulted in serious injuries for Valencia, who sustained broken ribs, a broken wrist and a lacerated liver, David wrote on the GoFundMe page.

The campaign — Help Chachi (Rocketman Valencia) heal and return to the sky — seeks to raise $55,000 for Valencia's mounting medical bills and to prepare for possible surgery within the next week. So far, the effort has raised $4,091.

"Beyond the physical pain, the medical bills are already mounting, and the road to recovery will be long. He's facing significant time away from work and his passion, and the financial strain is adding to the stress on his health and well-being," David wrote.

Valencia has at least 23 years of cannonball experience, according to his website. He's performed at the London Olympics closing ceremony, NASCAR, Formula 1 events, the secret weapon in Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival competition as well as several circuses and festivals around the world.

He was also featured in a BBC special news report along with his wife, Robin Valencia — the only female human cannonball in Europe, according to his website.