Vegas honors Siegfried & Roy on tiger attack anniversary

Illusionists Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn have been honoured on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars – three years after Horn was mauled by a tiger.

The 62-year-old was critically injured after being attacked by the animal in October 2003 during a performance.

The ceremony took place outside the Mirage Hotel where the German-born duo performed their show for 13 years.

Horn, who suffered a stroke after the incident, had some difficulty walking and speaking at the event.

‘Emotional’

The performer, who continues to recover after the accident, told the Associated Press agency that horseriding and driving a new sports car – a present for his 62nd birthday – were the latest stages in his rehabilitation.

He added that the Las Vegas dedication had been “a deeply emotional experience”, while his partner Fischbacher thanked fans for their continued support.

Horn told a Las Vegas newspaper in 2005 that he derived comfort from visiting the pair’s animals – including male Bengal tiger Montecore, who bit his neck and dragged him off the stage.

After the incident, Horn claimed that the tiger had tried to move him out of danger after he fainted – a theory which was disputed by animal experts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/5407144.stm