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An acrobat has died after plunging 100ft to his death in front of 35,000 people at a music festival in Spain.

The horrific accident happened just moments before headliners Green Day were due to come on stage - and organisers chose to continue with the performance.

A tweet from the band's official account later implied they did not know what had happened before they began playing.

It read: "We just got off stage at Mad Cool Festival to disturbing news.

"A very brave artist named Pedro lost his life tonight in a tragic accident.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

The victim was named as 42-year-old Pedro Aunion Monroy.

Some of those attending were disgusted with the decision and chose to walk out.

Javier Erquiaga tweeted Green Day and the Mad Cool festival accounts saying: "ashamed of you. An artist died just 20 meters from you and you still play. Worst band on the planet"

Another festivalgoer added: "Im leaving the madcool after an acrobat died mid show, and noone in the organization said anything.

"GreenDay shouldn't be playing right now"

British actor Adrian Randle who was at the festival wrote: "I couldn't in good faith stay to watch Green Day perform after that .

"Thoughts go out to the family of the performer. "

WARNING: DISTURBING

(Image: EFE) (Image: EFE / EPA) (Image: EFE / EPA)

The acrobat was performing a stunt in a small cage above the crowd accompanied by the Prince song 'Purple Rain' when tragedy struck

It is believed he was secured with a harness around the waist but it snapped and he plunged "like lead" around 30 metres to the ground, witnesses said.

"There was a lot of confusion and initially people thought it was part of the show," one said.

In disturbing footage posted online, onlookers can be heard screaming as a figure falls from the cage.

The performance in Madrid was being broadcast on large screens to the rest of the crowd, and there were further cries of horror when the camera then showed the fatally injured man on the ground.

(Image: Isolated case / Facebook) (Image: Isolated case / Facebook)

Police and emergency services attended and horrified revellers watched as the stricken man was given first aid at the scene.

But it was later confirmed he died as a result of his injuries.

According to his Facebook profile, Pedro Aunion Monroy was originally from Madrid but lived in Brighton.

He was director of his aerial dance company In Fact.

Friends and family of Mr Aunion Monroy took to social media to pay tribute to him.

His sister Estefi Chaje wrote: "To all the friends of my brother Pedro Aunion Monroy.

"I'm sorry to tell you that he died today.

"He was doing what he liked the most, a show at Mad Cool.

"We are destroyed."

Carolina Touceda replied: "His friends and work colleagues are destroyed.

"All the light and strength to survive this terrible moment."

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the show was delayed for about 30 minutes as police consulted with festival organisers before it was allowed to continue.

It is not known whether the band members of Green Day were aware of the fatal accident before they took to the stage.

One witness claimed she saw "arguments" between members of staff beside the stage before the band came on.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

There has been no official comment from Mad Cool Festival which is one of the largest in Spain, with more than 100,000 attending over three days last year.

Other big acts performing this weekend include Foo Fighters, Foals and Kings of Leon.

UPDATE: Green Day later said in a tweet: "We just got off stage at Mad Cool Festival to disturbing news.

"A very brave artist named Pedro lost his life tonight in a tragic accident.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

The organisers of Mad Cool Festival added: "Mad Cool Festival regrets the terrible accident that an acrobat suffered during the second day of the festival.

"For security reasons, the festival decided to continue with the programme."

"We send our most sincere condolences to his family.

"Tomorrow, Saturday 8th, during the festival we will pay tribute to the artist."