Going to the circus can be so much fun for those watching, but sometimes regular onlookers aren't as aware of the risks the performers are taking every time they do their acts. One circus performer recently sustained "serious injuries" after attempting to manage her way across a tightrope by being carried on a chair between two other performers. The woman suffered a horrifying fall when she lost her balance and went crashing down onto the metal floor below them.
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The terrible incident was caught on video. The woman was performing an act during a circus show at Glyne Gap Field in East Sussex, England, on Monday, August 19, 2024. In footage shared by People, the performer is seen standing on a chair between her two fellow performers on a tightrope that's about 16 feet in the air. She then slowly sits on the back of the chair and lowers her legs to the sides, but as she leans forward, she seemingly loses her footing and falls to the ground.
According to BBC News, the woman was a part of High Wire Troupe act from Columbia and was performing with Gravity Circus. The circus company said its "primary concern" is the performer's well-being and a "thorough" investigation is currently underway.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service said in a statement to People that it was called around 4:45 p.m. local time. "The patient, an adult female, had suffered facial and other injuries consistent with a fall," it read. "She was treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with serious injuries, although her condition was not thought to be life-threatening."
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Hayley Welsh attended the show and recalled the fall. "It looked like her leg gave way. She lost balance and went flying down wrapped around the wire," she said. "She smashed down onto the metal floor."
In a statement to People, Gravity Circus wrote, "In live entertainment and high-risk performances, accidents can unfortunately happen despite stringent safety measures. Our emergency protocols were immediately enacted, and the performer was promptly taken to the hospital." The company added, "The entire circus is deeply touched by the outpouring of support, love, and care shown by our customers and supporters during this difficult time."
