Great Yarmouth circus: Horror as Hippodrome acrobat falls 33ft from ‘giant wheel of death’ suffering ‘broken bones’

AN acrobat plunged more than 30ft to the ground from a “highwire” spinning wheel in the big top when a circus act went wrong last night.

Doctors and first-aid teams were called and a screen was put up around the stricken performer as the audience was told the Christmas show was ending early at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome.

Witnesses said the acrobat fell off a “giant wheel of death” before colliding with metal scaffolding and smashing into the ground.

Privacy screens were put up as an off-duty police officer and a paramedic in the audience ran to help.

It happened in the 6.30pm performance of the Christmas Spectacular show at the Hippodrome in the Norfolk seaside town.

Families trooped out as the show had to be cancelled.

The acrobat, aged in his 20s, fell while riding the “giant wheel of death” which spins and rotates high above the circus ring.

It’s feared he plunged at least 33ft (10 metres).

The acrobat’s partner in the act was his brother, who accompanied him to James Paget University Hospital along with circus staff.

The circus manager said he was not sure what the nature of his injuries were but understood it to be “broken bones” though their severity is not known.

Jack Jay, who is also the ringmaster, said: “He was fully conscious after the fall and two members of the audience, believed to be an off-duty police officer and a paramedic, came forward to help.

“It looked like miss-timing. He went to jump through one of the wheels and slipped, landing on the floor.”

The show was stopped immediately and the police and ambulance service were called, Mr Jay said.

He said health and safety officials were notified and were expected to investigate the fall and the apparatus.