Now this IS weird!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:07 amA human cannonball has been fired from his job because he is afraid of flying.
Todd Christian, 26, was sent flying through the air each night at speeds of up to 60mph at the Cottle & Austen circus.
He had been their acrobatic daredevil since February, but hurt his knee in an accident.
When his employers wanted to send him to Brazil for training to help deal with G-forces caused by being shot from the cannon he refused because he was afraid of flying in planes for long periods.
Mr Christian said his lawyer was examining whether he can begin a legal claim for unfair dismissal.
"The circus wanted to send me to have further training at the Guiana space centre in Brazil because they were worried I would hurt myself again," he said. "I know it sounds silly because I'm a human cannonball, but I don't like long flights and if I'm on a plane for a long time I start to panic. So I refused to go and they sacked me on the spot. I am devastated."
Marnie Dock, the circus' cannon trainer after becoming the world's first female cannonball at 16, said Mr Todd had had to be fired for his own safety. She said: "We are very strict about the people we take on because it can be a very dangerous stunt.
"Without the proper training in Brazil it would be too dangerous for him to continue his career as a human cannonball. He's a great guy and we offered him another job but he refused. We are trying to resolve it without taking it to the courts, but as far as our lawyers are concerned Todd doesn't have a leg to stand on."
The role has been taken over by Brazilian Diego Zeman, known as Diego the Human Rocket.
Todd Christian, 26, was sent flying through the air each night at speeds of up to 60mph at the Cottle & Austen circus.
He had been their acrobatic daredevil since February, but hurt his knee in an accident.
When his employers wanted to send him to Brazil for training to help deal with G-forces caused by being shot from the cannon he refused because he was afraid of flying in planes for long periods.
Mr Christian said his lawyer was examining whether he can begin a legal claim for unfair dismissal.
"The circus wanted to send me to have further training at the Guiana space centre in Brazil because they were worried I would hurt myself again," he said. "I know it sounds silly because I'm a human cannonball, but I don't like long flights and if I'm on a plane for a long time I start to panic. So I refused to go and they sacked me on the spot. I am devastated."
Marnie Dock, the circus' cannon trainer after becoming the world's first female cannonball at 16, said Mr Todd had had to be fired for his own safety. She said: "We are very strict about the people we take on because it can be a very dangerous stunt.
"Without the proper training in Brazil it would be too dangerous for him to continue his career as a human cannonball. He's a great guy and we offered him another job but he refused. We are trying to resolve it without taking it to the courts, but as far as our lawyers are concerned Todd doesn't have a leg to stand on."
The role has been taken over by Brazilian Diego Zeman, known as Diego the Human Rocket.
