Chachi Valencia, known as The Rocketman Valencia, had a tragic accident while performing his human cannonball stunt. The incident happened at the Riverside County Fair in California, where a small miscalculation almost cost him his life.
The crowd watched in shock as the accident unfolded. His team and paramedics rushed to assist him immediately. The impact caused multiple injuries, and he is now recovering slowly.
What happened to The Rocketman Valencia?
While performing his human cannonball act, The Rocketman Valencia landed on the safety net. However, a sudden gust of wind pushed him off course, causing him to bounce off the net and crash onto the concrete.
Valencia lost consciousness upon impact. Days later, he revealed that his last memory was the wind pushing him toward the edge of the net. “From that moment, I don’t remember anything until I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital.”
A stuntman known as the Rocketman Valencia has been injured in a human cannonball stunt gone wrong that was captured on camera.
Chachi Valencia, who has been involved in human cannonball acts for three decades, was performing at the Riverside County Fair and National Date… pic.twitter.com/RO9FlVwlxx— Denn Dunham (@DennD68) March 17, 2025
He explained that he had practiced the stunt while factoring in the wind. However, the gust on the day of the accident was stronger than expected, making it impossible for him to control his fall.
A life-threatening accident
The Rocketman Valencia suffered multiple rib fractures, a broken wrist, and a liver laceration. This information is available on GoFundMe, where he is asking for financial support to cover medical expenses.
“Beyond the physical pain, medical bills are already piling up, and the road to recovery will be long. He faces a significant time away from work and his passion, adding financial strain to the stress on his health and well-being,” said his son, David Valencia.
In a recent GoFundMe update, The Rocketman Valencia wrote, “Taking it day by day with my loyal pup by my side… Grateful for the time to heal and soak in all the love and hugs. Here’s to brighter days ahead.” He shared a photo with his dog, where he can be seen with his arm in a cast.
