Moment trapeze artist fractures his pelvis as he crashes to the floor in front of horrified circus audience
- Eduardo Elenilson Gama, 20, was performing at a circus show in north-eastern Brazil when his high-flying move went wrong and he plummeted to the ground
- The trapeze artist fell wide of the safety net and fell hard on his left-hand side
- Friend of trapezist said despite the severity of the fall, he may escape surgery
This is the terrifying moment that circus-goers watched a trapeze star lose his grip and plunge at least 10 feet to the ground during a show.
Trapezist Eduardo Elenilson Gama, 20, was performing at the Circo Puerto Rico circus show in Caucaia, north-eastern Brazilon Thursday 21 April when his stunt went wrong and he landed on the hard floor with a sickening bounce, breaking his pelvis.
The acrobat was swinging from a trapeze before he lost his grip on the pole after failing to make a turn, throwing his weight backwards before plummeting to the hard flooring.
Eduardo fell wide of the safety net and landed on his left-hand side with a great thud.
Three circus workers on the ground hastened over to the performer, and those in the audience audibly gasped and screamed at the accident, which left 20-year-old Eduardo hospitalised.
Paramedics hastened Eduardo to the local Dr Abelardo Gadelha da Rocha Municipal Hospital, then later transferred to the Dr Jose Frota Institute in nearby Fortaleza, where he remains with a broken pelvis.
This is the terrifying moment that circus-goers watched 20-year-old high-flying trapeze star Eduardo Elenilson Gama lose his grip and plunge at least three meters to the ground during a show
Eduardo fell wide of the safety net and landed on his left-hand side with a great thud. Three circus workers on the ground hastened over to the performer, and those in the audience audibly gasped and screamed at the accident, which left 20-year-old Eduardo hospitalised
A friend of the trapeze artist, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that despite the severity of the fall, Eduardo may escape surgery.
A closer assessment of the young man’s condition is due to take place today.
Trapezist Eduardo Elenilson Gama, 20, pictured, was performing at the Circo Puerto Rico circus show in Caucaia, north-eastern Brazil, on Thursday 21 April when his high-flying move went wrong and landed on the hard floor with a sickening bounce
The friend said: ‘He now needs a lot of rest and must not exert himself. He will probably be seen on Monday by the spine and pelvis doctor and we’ll wait for their opinion.’
The performance took place before the troupe had received official authorization to be able to perform, said the local authorities.
The Urban and Environmental Planning Department (UEPD) confirmed that the troupe was fined for performing without the necessary permits.
The circus remains banned from performing for the time being.
One of the circus directors said the group did not receive authorization to perform because a public holiday caused local officials to fall behind schedule.
UEPD said the Fire Department will carry out a technical inspection.
The acrobat was swinging from a trapeze before he lost his grip on the pole after failing to make a turn, throwing his weight backwards before plummeting to the hard flooring. Trapeze star loses grip and crashes to the ground during circus stunt. Pictured, the x-ray of the fracture on Gama’s pelvis
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