Bad taste? Siegfried and Roy tuck into white tiger birthday cake... eight years after Roy suffered near-fatal bite


Updated: 16:00 EST, 3 October 2011

It was just eight years ago that illusionist Roy Horn was almost killed after being bitten by a white tiger during a live Siegfried & Roy show.

But that didn't stop the illusionists from having a little fun at their own expense, on the day before the anniversary of the the horrific incident.

Roy yesterday celebrated his 67th birthday in Las Vegas with a cake in the shape of a white tiger.

Bad taste? Roy Horn (left) and Siegfried Fischbacher (right) celebrated Roy's 67th birthday at The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, America yesterday

Bad taste? Roy Horn (left) and Siegfried Fischbacher (right) celebrated Roy's 67th birthday at The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, America yesterday

The flamboyant entertainer, who is now retired, joined partner Siegfried Fischbacher to celebrate his special day at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas.

The Mirage is where Roy's near-fatal accident happened during a live show on October 3 2004. 

Roy was rushed to hospital after being bitten in the neck by a seven-year-old male tiger named Montecore, who had been trained with the act for six years.

Celebration: Roy blows the candles out on his cake while his partner Siegfried smiles delightedly

Celebration: Roy blows the candles out on his cake while his partner Siegfried smiles delightedly

Happy day: Roy Horn makes a birthday speech at the special enclosure at The Mirage

Happy day: Roy Horn makes a birthday speech at the special enclosure at The Mirage

Critically injured, Roy suffered severe blood loss and was said to have suffered a stroke and had to have a quarter of his skull removed to relieve pressure on his swelling brain.

The German-born illusionist also suffered temporary paralysis and had to undergo extensive rehabilitation in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Montecore was returned to his habitat in The Mirage.

Bit of an animal: Roy officially retired in April 2010, a year after performing a farewell show with Montecore the tiger

Bit of an animal: Roy officially retired in April 2010, a year after performing a farewell show with Montecore the tige

Taking the cake: The illusionists clearly have no qualms about returning to the Mirage Hotel, the scene of the accident eight years ago

Taking the cake: The illusionists clearly have no qualms about returning to the Mirage Hotel, the scene of the accident eight years ago

The duo, who were once named in the top ten highest paid entertainers in the United States, closed their show immediately after the accident.

They did, however, return to the stage for a 'final stage appearance' with a now-12-year-old Montecore back in 2009.

However, they announced their official retirement from show business in April last year.

Big cat: A white tiger, like Montecore in its enclosure at the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas

Big cat: A white tiger, like Roy's attacker Montecore in its enclosure at the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas


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