Roy Horn, of Siegfried and Roy, was attacked by seven-year-old white tiger, Montecore, during a performance at the Mirage on Friday Oct. 3, 2003, on Horn's 59th birthday. The tiger lunged at Horn's neck about halfway through the show and dragged him off stage. Backstage, show attendants sprayed the big cat with fire extinguishers to get him off Horn, who lost a massive amount of blood before he was rushed to the University Medical Center for emergency surgery. The attack damaged an artery carrying oxygen to the magician's brain, crushed his windpipe, and left him partially paralyzed. Horn remained in critical condition for four weeks, until Oct. 31, when he was moved to a UCLA rehabilitation center to continue his recovery.
Horn remained at UCLA through the end of December 2003 (just before Christmas), when he was well enough to be released. He went directly home to Las Vegas, where he began physical rehabilitation session with the same trainer who helped former Superman actor Christopher Reeve after he was paralyzed from the neck down in a 1995 horseback-riding accident.
In March 2004, five months after the attack, it was reported that Horn took his first steps, "able to walk with the help of a wheeled walking aid." In October 2004, on the one-year anniversary of the mauling, it was reported that Horn was still mostly confined to a wheelchair, was barely able to speak, and was attending physical therapy sessions "three hours a day, seven days a week."
In October 2005, two years later, Roy Horn was interviewed by the Las Vegas Sun. He could walk unaided for short distances and with the help of a cane for longer periods of time. He could also talk quite easily and loudly, when he cared to. His grip on his right side was firm, though his left side was still partially paralyzed. He did admit, however, to experiencing "unrelenting pain," having detoxified from painkillers in Germany earlier in the year. A thin white scar across the right side of his neck was visible.
Two significant quotes from the interview: "I get comfort from my animals. I go to the Secret Garden once a week and visit all my animals at The Mirage," he said. "It is a comfort zone." Montecorte, the tiger that attacked him, also lives at the Secret Garden. And, "I could do the show again tomorrow, that's how good I feel."
Today (2006), according to Roy Horn's publicist, "Roy [now 61], through hard work at near-daily rehabilitation sessions, continues to make remarkable progress. He and Siegfried recently traveled to New York City to receive the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor award in recognition of their German heritage. Siegfried continues to support Roy in his rehab efforts, while also working and traveling.
"Performing again is not part of their future, but that doesn't mean Siegfried & Roy are done creatively. They were supporters of Havana Nightclub and will continue to seek avenues to bring new ideas to entertainment. Their conservation efforts for the white tigers and white lions, as well as all animals, continue as passionately as ever."
