Roy Horn walks into Las Vegas theater; another step in recovery

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Illusionist Roy Horn made a slow, unassisted stroll into a Las Vegas theater, taking another step in his recovery from a near-fatal tiger mauling 23 months ago. <br/><br/>Horn ``methodically''

Monday, September 12th 2005, 10:13 am

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Illusionist Roy Horn made a slow, unassisted stroll into a Las Vegas theater, taking another step in his recovery from a near-fatal tiger mauling 23 months ago.

Horn ``methodically'' walked about 100 yards into the Thursday evening performance of ``Avenue Q'' at the Wynn Las Vegas resort, said Bernie Yuman, longtime manager of the ``Siegfried & Roy'' show.

He was accompanied by his partner, Siegfried Fischbacher, and casino mogul Steve Wynn.

Horn, 60, has been walking without the aid of a rolling walker after months of six- to eight-hour days in physical rehabilitation, Yuman said. His injuries included a damaged neck artery and a crushed windpipe.

He has made other public appearances in recent months.

Horn was partially paralyzed when a 380-pound white tiger attacked him and dragged him by the neck during a performance of the ``Siegfried & Roy'' show at The Mirage resort.

The mauling ended the long-running ``Siegfried & Roy'' production, one of the most successful shows in Las Vegas history.

Yuman said Friday that Horn and some friends were preparing to mark Horn's 61st birthday on Oct. 3 _ the second anniversary of the attack. He declined to provide details.

``We're going to continue to celebrate his birthday and his life,'' Yuman said, emphasizing the inspirational elements of Horn overcoming adversity.

``We look forward to Oct. 3 as we always have, but now it has new meaning,'' he said.