5 injured in fall during high-wire act rehearsal
5 injured in fall during high-wire act rehearsal:- Five performers were injured when they fell from a high wire during a circus rehearsal here Wednesday.
Eight performers, including world-famous high-wire walker Nik Wallenda, were on the wire — about 20 to 25 feet above the ground — practicing the final act for Circus Sarasota. Wallenda was not injured, said the circus founder.
The pyramid was part of Circus Sarasota's record-breaking attempt to perform the eight-person stunt, Circus Conservatory CEO Pedro Reis said during a news conference Wednesday.
Two persons were critically injured, but those injured are expected to recover, circus officials said.
“Circus artists sometimes compare themselves to Nascar Formula 1 drivers pushing the limits,” Reis said, adding that this wasn't the first time the crew had attempted the complicated pyramid. They "did it flawlessly yesterday.”
â–º Related: Nik Wallenda walks atop towering Orlando observation wheel
The troupe of funambulists was performing final rehearsals ahead of the circus' opening show Friday. Circus officials say the show will go on.
Circus Sarasota said the rigging did not fail or collapse, but that someone lost their balance..
Update: @NikWallenda was practicing an eight person pyramid at 20 to 25 feet above ground for new world record #wtsp pic.twitter.com/4suVxqmFCf
— Isabel Mascarenas (@IMascarenas) February 8, 2017
Wallenda, of the famous Flying Wallendas, successfully walked on top of the Orlando Eye in April 2015.
He rode to the top of the wheel, then navigated up ladders and around sections of the structure, which is 400 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. Before starting the walk, he took a selfie with his phone.
He walked on a steel beam that was about 6 inches wide.
Update: Circus Sarasota's CEO says @NikWallenda not injured, he was practicing an 8 person pyramid when someone lost their balance #wtsp
— Isabel Mascarenas (@IMascarenas) February 8, 2017
Source:- http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/02/08/high-wire-act-fall-florida/97652172/
