Screams at Christmas spectacular as acrobat is rushed to hospital after falling from a highwire spinning ‘Wheel of Death’ in the big top when circus act went wrong
- The acrobat fell 16ft during the highwire circus act
- Members of the audience at the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth gasped in horror after the fall
- Were you at the event and saw what happened? E-mail: [email protected]
An acrobat has been rushed to hospital after falling 16ft from a ‘giant wheel of death’ during a highwire circus act.
Video footage showed members of the audience at the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth gasping in horror after the circus performer fell from the apparatus on Wednesday evening.
One witness said the acrobat collided with metal scaffolding and smashed into the ground.
The acrobat, aged in his 20s, fell during the 6.30pm performance of the circus’ Christmas Spectacular show.
Hippodrome Circus said the show was stopped immediately and the police and ambulance service were called.
The acrobat was rushed to hospital after falling 16ft from a ‘giant wheel of death’ on Wednesday evening
The man is believed to have suffered from broken bones and he was conscious when the incident struck.
The acrobat’s partner in the act was his brother, who accompanied him to hospital along with circus staff.
In a statement, the circus said: ‘During the 6.30pm performance of The Christmas Spectacular last night one of our stunt performers fell from the large performance wheel.
‘The performer remained conscious, but it was clear he had sustained some injuries.
‘So the decision was made for the show to be stopped for the evening and the public exited.
‘The artiste in question received immediate medical attention, paramedics then moved him to a medical facility for further evaluation.
‘We are under the impression that he is in a stable condition and has been evaluated overnight.’
Jack Jay, Hippodrome Circus’ ringmaster, said health and safety officials were notified of the fall
Jack Jay, Hippodrome Circus’ ringmaster, said health and safety officials were notified and were expected to investigate the fall and the apparatus.
Explaining the nature of the incident, he added: ‘It looked like miss-timing. He went to jump through one of the wheels and slipped, landing on the floor.’
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: ‘One ambulance, one rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and East Anglian Air Ambulance were called to St George’s Road, Great Yarmouth last night (Wednesday) following reports of a man injured in a fall.
‘One patient was transported to James Paget Hospital (in Gorleston) with serious injuries.’
MailOnline has approached the Health and Safety Executive and Norfolk Police for comment on the incident.
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