Thrill seeker Matt Cranch landed his dream job as a stuntman only a week before he died after being fired into the air as a human cannonball.

Mr Cranch, 23, from Newquay, Cornwall, was performing the stunt as part of Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show at a showground near Maidstone, Kent on Monday, when his safety net apparently failed.

In the months leading up to his death, Mr Cranch wrote on his Facebook page about searching for his new job, UK's Daily Mail reported.

Advertisement: Story continues below On March 11, he wrote: "I have got an interview to be a stuntman."

The next day he said: "had the interview. I seriously want this job."

On April 17, a little more than a week before his death, he wrote: "matt cranch status officially human cannonball."

He had left a job as a barman at the Watergate Bay Hotel in Newquay two weeks before his death.

His old boss, Will Ashworth, said he had left to pursue his dream job.

"He was with us for three years and was an extremely popular guy and much loved by everybody here, Mr Ashworth told The Telegraph.

"Our thoughts are very much with his friends and family at this time.

On a Facebook memorial page, friends remembered Mr Cranch playing punk music on his guitar, wearing his hair in dreadlocks and driving around in his beloved VW or a "clapped out Morris Minor".

"Full respect to him for getting out there and living how he did for the past 4 years. surfing/living on the beach.... becoming a stunt man..." Michael Antony Bell wrote.

"You always, always had time for people and always made sure I got home safe when we'd stayed out talking about cars and guitars a little after closing time! I can't believe you've gone so soon," Heather Watson wrote.

Sam Waugh, 24, said he was Mr Cranch's best friend at primary and high school.

"He was clever at school particularly science but he hated the mainstream," Mr Waugh told the Daily Mail.

"He opted out. He was not interested in going into the sixth form or going to university.

"He went through a phase when he had long hair and dreadlocks. He became obsessed with a PlayStation game called Stuntman.

"When we were young if there was anything dangerous he was there. He would climb highest up the tree. He seemed to love the adrenaline."

Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show cancelled all future shows until further notice.

A statement posted on the company's website yesterday said the cause of the accident was not yet known.

"Scott and the team are still reeling with shock and grief over the loss of their colleague and fellow stunt performer in the tragic accident at the show yesterday afternoon," the statement said.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."

Acting Chief Inspector Steve Griffiths of Kent Police said an investigation into his death had begun.

"Obviously a cannon catapulted the young man out and what appears to have happened is as soon as the cannon fired, it is believed the safety net dropped - we don't know why at this stage - and tragically he fell to his death," he told The Telegraph.

"Quite obviously this is appalling. This is awful for everybody involved - for the people watching and especially for his family."



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/the-tragedy-of-thrill-seeker-matt-new-dream-job-outside-the-mainstream-ends-in-disaster-20110427-1dvsd.html#ixzz1KgnnWeU7