(Photo via Twitter)
Eight performers fell anywhere between 25 and 40 feet, landing on top of a dancer below when a metal contraption they were hanging from malfunctioned during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus show at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on Sunday.
The nine circus members were brought to a nearby hospital and listed as being in serious but stable condition. Two others who suffered minor injuries were also admitted.
The accident occurred during a portion of the show where performers hang from a metal platform by their hair to form a human chandelier. According to the Daily News, the trick took a turn for the worse when the truss that connected the metal frame to its supporting arm separated and sent the performers crashing down. The cause of the accident is still unknown.
Circus-goers told the Daily News that the terrifying scene unfolded in the blink of an eye. Some thought it was all part of the act, while others—probably tipped off by the sounds of ambulance sirens—knew immediately that something was not right.
The remainder of the show was cancelled as well as two other performances that were scheduled for later in the day.
Video of the accident was captured (probably illegally, knowing the restrictions these types of shows place on spectators) and posted to Youtube. Just a fair warning that, while taken from a distance, it’s still slightly disturbing: