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US acrobats injured in fall at Rhode Island circus act | US acrobats injured in fall at Rhode Island circus act |
(35 minutes later) | |
Eleven people have been injured, one critically, after a group of female acrobats fell from an aerial platform at a circus in the US state of Rhode Island. | Eleven people have been injured, one critically, after a group of female acrobats fell from an aerial platform at a circus in the US state of Rhode Island. |
The eight acrobats plummeted about 10m (32ft) after the scaffolding structure holding them collapsed. | The eight acrobats plummeted about 10m (32ft) after the scaffolding structure holding them collapsed. |
A circus spokesman said the performers were in the middle of a hair-hanging and motorbike high-wire act. | A circus spokesman said the performers were in the middle of a hair-hanging and motorbike high-wire act. |
Officials say they have launched an investigation into the accident. | Officials say they have launched an investigation into the accident. |
The accident occurred on Sunday morning during the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus show in Providence. A dancer on the ground was among those hurt. | The accident occurred on Sunday morning during the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus show in Providence. A dancer on the ground was among those hurt. |
Eleven people were taken to Rhode Island Trauma Center, where a spokesperson told the BBC that one person was in a critical condition. | Eleven people were taken to Rhode Island Trauma Center, where a spokesperson told the BBC that one person was in a critical condition. |
Human chandelier | Human chandelier |
The acrobats were hanging from their hair, suspended in a "human chandelier" formation when the apparatus supporting them suddenly collapsed, sending them crashing to the floor below, says the BBC's Beth McLeod in Washington. | The acrobats were hanging from their hair, suspended in a "human chandelier" formation when the apparatus supporting them suddenly collapsed, sending them crashing to the floor below, says the BBC's Beth McLeod in Washington. |
"All performers in the act received immediate medical attention and were transported to a local hospital for further care," the circus company said in a statement. | "All performers in the act received immediate medical attention and were transported to a local hospital for further care," the circus company said in a statement. |
The collapse was reported to police about 45 minutes into the show. One eyewitness, 14-year-old Sydney Bragg, told the Associated Press that she thought at first it was part of the act. | |
"It just went crashing down. Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream," she said. | "It just went crashing down. Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream," she said. |
According to the circus website, the eight performers, known as "hairialists", feature in a "larger-than-life act... spinning, hanging from hoops, and rolling down wrapped silks all while being suspended 35ft in the air by their hair alone". | According to the circus website, the eight performers, known as "hairialists", feature in a "larger-than-life act... spinning, hanging from hoops, and rolling down wrapped silks all while being suspended 35ft in the air by their hair alone". |